London Youth Games seeks ceo and sponsorship boost
The London Youth Games is hunting a chief executive and sponsors as it seeks to build its brand in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics.
The annual event, which helped launch the careers of athletes including cyclist Bradley Wiggins, sprinter Christine Ohuruogu and footballer Rio Ferdinand, has secured long-term funding and is now hoping to attract more participants across more disciplines.
Balfour Beattie signed a £1.7m headline sponsorship deal for the games late last year and Thames Water is backing the yachting regatta, to be held at Victoria Dock. Sport England is also supporting the games, which pits young athletes from different London Boroughs against each other.
However LYG chairman Anthony Kendall says that the body is still looking for sponsors to get involved in the finals weekend, held at Crystal Palace in July, where they hope to create an Olympic style “village” for competitors.
The appointment of a chief executive will lead to a stronger brand for the event, he believes.
Kendall says/ “Now that we have major sponsorship and funding from Sport England we are on a much stronger footing and we want to take the games forward in a big way.”
He describes the event as a “sleeping giant” and says: “2012 has transformed the situation and this is a moment for sport in London that is not going to be repeated again.”
Kendall describes the LYG as a “mini-Olympics” that has the potential to transform the lives of competitors, and adds that the organisation is keen to develop participation among young athletes with disabilities.
