Cash Boost For Local Olympic Legacy

---

London Youth Games coming soon

A cash boost will enable local young people from disadvantaged backgrounds take part in sport or physical activitity.

The £2,000 award is to help develop an Olympic and Paralympic legacy in Merton, and will see youngsters offered professional coaching sessions in cycling, boccia, girls' cricket, volleyball and girls' football leading towards competing at the London Youth Games.

Eight sessions of girls' football are being delivered with an extra chance to join with AFC Wimbledon or Tooting and Mitcham FC to continue their development. Current England Ladies captain Casey Stoney played for Merton at the London Youth Games.

Councillor Nick Draper, cabinet member for community and culture at Merton Council, and local youngsters collected the cheque from GB international runner Emily Pidgeon on behalf of the 2013 Balfour Beatty Sport Development Grants with 95.8 Capital FM Help a Capital Child.

It took place at girls' football training session at King Georges Playing Fields in Morden.

The award is one of 17 made to London boroughs totalling almost £35,000 to deliver funding to London community projects that enable disadvantaged youngsters to take part in sport or physical activity.

Merton Council's cabinet member for community and culture, Councillor Nick Draper, said: "I'm delighted Merton has secured this sport development grant. Sport and exercise is essential to the health and happiness of our young people in Merton and I'd like to thank everyone involved in helping them to participate in sport at such a high standard through the London Youth Games."

Anthony Kendall, Chairman, London Youth Games, said: "You only have to take a look at last summer to see what can be achieved when Londoners come together through sport. For 36 years, the London Youth Games has been bringing communities together in a fun, competitive multi-sport environment, acting as a powerful catalyst for community sport across London."

The London Youth Games is Europe's largest annual youth sports event. A record 104,463 young Londoners took part in the 2012 London Youth Games.

The 2013 London Youth Games will be the biggest in history, featuring 85 competitions across 33 sports and 27 event days, culminating in finals week at the National Sports Centre Crystal Palace in July where the overall winning borough are awarded the Jubilee Trophy.

There were 44 former London Youth Games competitors who took part in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games winning 14 medals, including nine gold from Mo Farah (athletics), David Weir (disability athletics), Bradley Wiggins (cycling), Joanna Rowsell (cycling), Naomi Riches (disability rowing).

To find out more about opportunities to compete for Merton, contact Leisure & Development Officer Martel Atterbury on Martel.Atterbury@merton.gov.uk or 020 8545 3716. Or visit www.londonyouthgames.org for more information.

May 13, 2013