Golden start for Enfield to launch latest London Youth Games campaign

It marks the start of the 50th year for the event which has seen more than two million young people take part since 1977, reports Alice Ashcroft

Jorjia on top of the podium with Enfield mayor Emma Supple (left)

An Enfield athlete has claimed gold at the London Youth Games – as the mayor says the event “brings the best” out of young people.

At the opening event for the 2026/27 games on Saturday (7th), Enfield athlete Jorja won a gold medal in the under-18s girls’ cross country race. Hers was the largest victory margin of the day, finishing 21 seconds ahead of her competitors.

The season’s opening event held in Parliament Hill celebrated 50 years of London Youth Games, dubbed the ‘Golden Games’, with eight races for young people ranging from under-twelve to under-18 age categories.

Over 1,500 runners took park as 1,000 parents, volunteers and supporters from across London watched on. This included Enfield mayor Emma Supple, who said: “Events like this are just wonderful, so important. Bringing nearly two thousand youngsters together in real competition, that’s what matters and brings the best out in you.”

London Youth Games has seen more than two million young people take part over its 50-year history. This includes some of the UK’s most legendary athletes, including four-time Olympic gold medallist runner Sir Mo Farah and two-time Olympic Gold medallist triathlete Alex Yee.

Cllr Supple said: “Representing your borough alongside your peers and friends in your own age group really helps to develop a team spirit and the ripples you’re creating here are really positive.

“We’ve got young people that are developing a habit of sport, and as they grow into their adult lives, the skills they’re learning here will stand them in great stead.”

The London Youth Games Foundation is a charity reaching over 10,000 young people from across London to participate in more than 30 sports.

However, as the largest youth multi-sport event in Europe, the charity is under constant financial pressure to continue delivering upon the games’ historic legacy, tracing back to its foundation in 1977. More details about how people can support London Youth Games can be found here.

Cllr Supple added she was “so proud to be the mayor of Enfield in this fiftieth year of the London Youth Games to help celebrate it and move it forwards”.

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