London Youth Games are taking cross country virtual with the launch of the Nike x LYG Virtual Cross Country, an exciting new event designed to keep young Londoners active during lockdown.

Each year, cross country marks the start of the London Youth Games’ calendar with thousands of young Londoners descending on Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath to determine the capital’s fastest runners. With lockdown measures in place and sporting events all over the world affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s London Youth Games’ season opener is going virtual.

Nike x LYG Virtual Cross Country will begin on Saturday 21^st November and run until Sunday 6^th December. All young Londoners will have the chance to take part, representing their boroughs in a London-wide competition across four different age groups. Participants must complete a set distance, depending on their age group, and submit their time via the London Youth Games website to earn points for their borough. Points are scored for participating and performance so all young Londoners can help their borough climb the leader board. The winning borough will be revealed after the event closing date.

“At a time when we would normally be welcoming thousands of young people to Parliament Hill for cross country, we find ourselves in a second lockdown,” said LYG CEO, Andy Dalby-Welsh. “At this critical time, our virtual cross-country event is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get out and get active. We know the hugely positive impact being active can have on our physical and mental well-being. We saw the incredible impact of the Virtual Games over the summer and we will continue to provide further opportunities for our young people in London. Good luck to all the runners taking part and may the best Borough win!”

London Youth Games want to ensure that all participants are able to take part in the Virtual Cross Country safely and within government guidance. Safety guidance for Virtual Cross Country is available to download via the London Youth Games website. All participants are advised to read this before setting out on their run. For more information, please visit: https://www.londonyouthgames.org/virtual-games/