Balfour Beatty and London Youth Games

£1.7 million sponsorship for London Youth Games

Balfour Beatty has a six year association with Europe’s largest annual young people’s multi-games competition, The London Youth Games.

Balfour Beatty supports the London Youth Games and local grass roots sport development by pledging to invest £1.7 million from November 2007 until 2013.

“Balfour Beatty’s role is to create and care for physical infrastructure on which we all depend. Wherever we operate we seek to add social benefits to the physical improvements our work delivers. Our commitment to sponsor and support the London Youth Games through to 2013 reflects both the enormous amount of work we carry out in the Capital and our recognition of the benefits that sports participation can bring, in terms of personal well-being, social cohesion and opportunities to grow.”

(Ian Tyler, Baflour Beatty Chief Executive)

The London Youth Games, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007, invites over 25,000 young Londoners from all over the city to compete in over 30 different sports, providing them the opportunity to represent their local Borough or school.

British 400m world champion Christine Ohuruogu supports the event that acted as a stepping stone to her international success, “Having taken part myself in the London Youth Games, I know how exciting and positive they are for athletics.

“This type of investment towards the London Youth Games is great news for the sport and the city. With such strong backing the games are sure to develop even further, nurturing some of the most promising talent the city has to offer.”

Former World Indoor 800m medallist and London Youth Games participant, Jo Fenn comments on the Games and the support from Balfour Beatty. “To receive support of this kind for a further six years is outstanding for the event and for up and coming young athletes.”

Anthony Kendall, Chairman of the London Youth Games comments on the backing of Balfour Beatty, “This announcement represents a seminal moment in the history of the London Youth Games, which has at its heart the ethos of involving as many young Londoners as possible in competitive sport.

“Balfour’s investment will allow us to fulfill our objectives of doubling participation in the London Youth Games by 2012.”

The annual London Youth Games are open to anyone aged between seven and 17. Each of the 32 London Boroughs and the City of London enters teams in as many of the 30 sports as possible. More details about the games can be found at www.londonyouthgames.org