The 2014 London Youth Games is Europe’s largest youth sports event involving all 33 London boroughs competing against each other in over 30 sports to become Champions of London. 2014 is the 37th year of the competition with Wandsworth winning the competition in 2013 for the first time in the events history.
23 of Wandsworth's 47 different sports teams finished in the top five in their competitions with just eight teams finishing outside of the top 10 placings. Overall, some 500 talented young people, coaches and staff contributed to the Borough's success - proof of the spirit, commitment and determination that the London Youth Games inspire - qualities that are much in evidence in Wandsworth. It is said that winning back to back titles is the hardest thing to do, but Team Wandsworth achieved it with the highest points total ever. The team of 2014 are legends and we are justifiably proud of them all.
On a fabulous weekend for British sport, with the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Yorkshire and the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the young people of Wandsworth were breaking their own sporting records. For the second year in a row and with the highest ever points total of 1,193, in the 37-year history of the London Youth Games, the borough's team of young people, aged between 7 and 18, were crowned champions on Sunday 6 July at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, lifting the Jubilee Trophy, a fantastic achievement.
Team Wandsworth
Team Wandsworth started the 2014 season back in November with silver in the girls’ cross country, and this was followed in February by a gold medal-winning performance by the girls’ cricket team comfortably beating Hillingdon in the final 117 - 36. Leading up to the Finals weekend the boys’ Judo won gold for a record fifth year in a row and the rowing team finished in silver position at the Regatta. Wandsworth secured second place overall in the Para-games trophy, with excellent performances from young people with disabilities in both the boys and girls para-swimming and para-athletics events - picking up one silver and three bronze team positions a significant improvement on the previous year.
Finals weekend
At the Finals weekend on 5 and 6 July, four further gold medals were awarded to members of the boys’ volleyball team, who won for the second year in a row, beating Haringey 2 sets to nil. The girls’ volleyball team retained their title for a forth year running, also beating Haringey 2-0 and the girls’ hockey team followed suit, claiming their forth title in as many years with an amazing penalty flicks win as the final ended 0-0 against Hammersmith and Fulham.
And on the very last day of competition, the boys’ hockey team won the trophy for the very first time, beating Bromley 1-0 in the final, remaining unbeaten throughout the qualifying and finals tournament, only conceding 1 goal in over 12 matches.
July 28, 2014