A team of young Croydon sportspeople achieved five medal wins and sixth place overall against 33 other borough teams, in this year’s London Youth Games Jubilee Trophy competition.
Held last weekend at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, the finals of the London Youth Games is the climax of Europe’s largest youth sports festival. It takes place over nine months with events across more than 30 different sports from archery to weightlifting.
The council-supported team scored 1082 points in total – just one point short of a top five ranking overall. The winning team was from Bromley, with 1212 points.
Croydon’s girls swim team and the ParaGames boys swim team won gold, the Aquathlon and ParaGames girls athletics teams picked up silver, and Boccia competitors bronze. Team Croydon’s efforts resulted in being them placed among the top 10 teams in 23 sports, and within the top five in another 18.
Competitions whittled 2,000 Croydon 9-18 year olds down to more than 400 who competed throughout the festival, culminating in 120 competing during the Jubilee Trophy finals.
The council’s Active Lifestyles team act as the borough’s team organiser role for the Games, and the team’s entry was also sponsored by the council’s leisure centre operator GLL.
“Croydon’s young sportspeople have done the borough proud. Their efforts will be an inspiration to all, demonstrating not only sporting prowess but the benefits of healthy active lifestyles.
Well done to all involved – and I hope to see some of them competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020!”
Councillor Oliver Lewis, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport
