Summary:
The 400m runner believes it can be the start of a career in sport.
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CHRISTINE Ohuruogu and Dami Bakare were among a host of Olympians to show their support for the next generation of stars at the London Youth Games.
Olympic gold medallist Ohuruogu and Team GB volleyball star Bakare were joined by fellow Youth Games alumni Amy Marren, Abi Oyepitan, Peter Waterfield, Temi Fagbenie and Alison Waters for the annual competition at Crystal Palace.
Youngsters from 33 London boroughs contested the Jubilee Trophy this year claimed by Wandsworth as overall winners, after competitions in sports including athletics, swimming, football, netball, volleyball and more.
Britain’s leading women’s 400m runner Ohuruogu, who won gold at Beijing 2008 and silver at London 2012, began competing in netball at the London Youth Games for Newham.
She is convinced it can be the start of a future career in sport for many of the capital’s youngsters.
“The way I can explain it was like a festival of sport, I never imagined seeing so many young people participating in sport in one area,” she said.
“This is where we started off and look where we are now – look how far we have come.
“It is humbling for me as well to remember where I started off from and remember that these guys have the potential to follow the same route as I did.
“When we look at the context of the Olympic Games and have an event like this it really should be impressed upon us that these events should carry on.
“Events like this give them a forum to go out and enjoy themselves. If they come out here and are happy they can go out and conquer the world.”
The London Youth Games is delivering a sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics by inspiring more youngsters to play and volunteer in sport.
London’s councils along with Balfour Beatty and Sport England support Europe’s largest annual sports event that has over 100k athletes competing across 85 competitions over nine months.
Photo courtesy of ejbaurdo, with thanks.
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