Runaway success at games for Southwark

Southwark improved on their overall result by moving up one place from 19th to 18th and the female basketball team defeated the reigning champions Haringey by 43 points to 37.

Other successes included Southwark being crowned football champions and medal winning results in male gymnastics, basketball, swimming and female hockey and gold in the javelin event for Omar Malik.

Peckham youngster, Zanson Plummer clinched the male 100 metre event in 11.2 seconds to become the fastest young person in London .

"It was quite exciting for me, as the person who came second won the English Schools Championships the day before. Winning the 100 metres means a lot to me", said Zanson.

Cllr Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture, leisure, sport and the Olympics at Southwark Council, said:

"Southwark has enjoyed astounding success at the London Youth Games this year and I would like to thank all the individuals involved in steering our young people to victory, many of whom were local volunteers who gave up their free time."

Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Lorraine Lauder, said:

"I'd like to pay tribute to all the competitors who made the youth games such a success. Yet again the young people of Southwark have really shone and shown what a positive contribution they can make. Well done to all who were involved."

Background Information 

The 2011 Balfour Beatty London Youth Games, which were held on the first weekend of July, had 25 competition days across 30 sports for young people aged between 7 and 18.  This year over 60,000 young people took part from all 33 London boroughs competing in individual, team, boys, girls, able-bodies and disabled events.

The London Youth Games is one of the Olympic pledges through the Olympics Engaging Young People action plan steering group