Team Islington’s Under-13s Girls’ football team, who bagged bronze medals at the London Youth Games

ORGANISERS behind the largest annual youth multi-sports showcase in Europe are already busy planning extra celebrations to mark a very special milestone.

The 50th edition of the London Youth Games will get underway in November, starting with the biggest event in their nine-month calendar: the cross-country championships at Parliament Hill Fields in Camden.

The competition, which incorporates the School Games and the ParaGames, uses the power of sport and physical activity to provide life-changing opportunities to over 10,000 young Londoners per year.

It delivers an extensive programme including over 37 different sports for youngsters from all 32 of the capital’s boroughs and the City of London.

Team Islington are among the squads now recharging over the summer following another top campaign.
Among the successes was the girls Under-13s footballers bagging a brilliant bronze medal.

Held at the Jack Carter Pavilion in East London, 21 boroughs competed in a series of thrilling round-robin matches, with Islington battling their way to a third-place finish.

“It was a great event,” said Islington’s manager Lemar. “The team had a lot of fun. The players have really bonded together through battling through the group stages and making it through to the semi-finals. It’s been great to bring together all the girls that come from different schools.”

Young Islington athletes who were recognised at the GLL Sport Foundation Awards at the Town Hall

The celebrations didn’t stop there, with the borough’s young sports stars also recently attending the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) Awards at Islington Town Hall in Upper Street.

A 70-strong crowd gathered for the ceremony recognising Islington’s sporting talent, including 27 young athletes currently supported through the GSF programme. Among the highlights was a Q&A with triathlete Lily Caunt, trampolinist Kye Malcolm, fencer Kola Abidogun and GSF ambassador Vanessa Wallace, who competed in the shot put at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The athletes shared their personal journeys, reflections on their respective sports and their ambitions for the future.

Now in its 18th year, the GLL Sport Foundation continues to make a significant impact across the borough. In 2026, the programme is supporting 72 athletes across 22 different sports, with a total value of £51,140 in support, comprising of direct financial assistance and training memberships.

GSF Chair and GLL CEO Peter Bundey said: “GLL is a successful worker-owned cooperative and charitable social enterprise that has brought growing impact to public services and local communities over 33 years of successful operation.

“Our GLL Sport Foundation remains central to our remit to widen and deepen opportunities available to talented young athletes and build a legacy through sport.

“Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and our own purposed business model we are delighted to announce a record 3,234 athletes will benefit from the programme this year.

“I want to wish them every success and we look forward to seeing them in competition here and abroad in years to come.”