London Youth Games are putting disabled young Londoners at the heart of the competition, empowering them to set, film, complete and share sport-related challenges as part of the LYG Virtual Inclusive Games – an eight-week virtual challenge series launching on Tuesday 9^th February.

Following the success of the summer’s Virtual Games, which attracted over 40,000 entries during the first national lockdown, London Youth Games has taken an inclusive approach to its latest virtual offering. The LYG Virtual Inclusive Games will feature inclusive challenges set by young disabled people, which include suggested adaptations to ensure as many young Londoners as possible can get involved.

“The LYG Virtual Inclusive Games come at a critical time for young disabled Londoners,” said LYG CEO, Andy Dalby-Welsh. “This has been highlighted by the Activity Alliance’s latest Annual Disability and Activity Survey, which shows a worrying decline in activity levels among disabled people during the pandemic.”

Activity Alliance’s ‘Annual Disability and Activity Survey’, released earlier this week, reveals twice as many disabled people feel that coronavirus has greatly reduced their ability to do sport or physical activity compared to non-disabled people. The survey also shows that almost a quarter of disabled people believe that they had not received enough information about how to be active during the pandemic, and that for many a lack of activity has led to a deterioration in both physical and mental wellbeing.

“Being registered blind, I have experienced first hand how the pandemic has affected my opportunity to be active,” continues Dalby-Welsh. “So, I am really excited that we can launch this project to provide an opportunity to celebrate young disabled people, whilst providing a fun, competitive and inclusive opportunity for all young Londoners. We believe sport is a right for all, and we are committed to providing inclusive activities that can improve both the physical and mental health of all young Londoners.”

The LYG Virtual Inclusive Games will run for eight weeks, with three different challenges released each week. Whilst the competition is open to all young Londoners to participate, the challenges are set by young disabled people to raise awareness of the importance of disabled people remaining active and to celebrate their achievements. To participate in the LYG Virtual Inclusive Games, young Londoners must complete the challenges and submit their scores via the London Youth Games website.

Challenges will be released every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9am via the London Youth Games website and social media channels. Participants will then have until Monday at 12pm to complete the challenges and submit their scores. Young Londoners will be representing their boroughs, who will receive points based on participation numbers. A leaderboard will be published each week showing the latest borough standings, and at the end of the competition, the winning borough will be revealed.

As an added incentive, a group of athlete ambassadors will be helping to inspire and support the young people through the challenges, and individual prizes will also be up for grabs. Young people are encouraged to share videos of their challenge attempts on social media using #ThisIsLYG to be in with a chance of winning the weekly MVP (Most Valuable Player) award and some Nike swag. Each week an MVP will be selected based on the commitment, creativity and style shown in their videos.

Week one of the LYG Virtual Inclusive Games begins with a series of Basketball challenges. The challenges have been set by Freya from the London Titans Wheelchair Basketball Club, Cameron a former LYG participant from Southwark, and James and Olivia representing the Richmond Knights Basketball Club.

For more information about the LYG Virtual Inclusive Games, and to keep up to date with the latest challenges and standings, please visit: www.londonyouthgames.org/virtual-games