Street Games Festival at Copper Box 15/08/13

Today activeNewham staff were responsible for escorting 200 young people to the Street Games Coco-Cola Mass Participation Festival. This was the first of many “mass-participation” festivals that Street Games and Coca-Cola have teamed up to deliver nationally. The event was held at the iconic Copper Box, which is now  a multi-sport venue at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The event also marked the launch of a three year partnership renewal between Coca-Cola and Street Games confirmed earlier this year, aimed at increasing youth participation into sport.

And it  all happened on our doorstep!

2000 children from across the country descended upon the Olympic venue, many of whom were visiting the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the first time. Visiting the park was not a first for me and many of the Newham kids but visiting the Copper Box specifically was a first for most of us.

The children were treated to a range of traditional sports including basketball, football, athletics but they also had the opportunity to experience new sports and activities that they had never tried before!

Talented Newham footballer with the ball (left) had everyone
on defence mesmerised!

Outdoor athletics track provided by activeNewham
for 100m dash enthusiasts.

From rollerskiing to parkour, canoeing to graffiti art  workshops and even opportunities to mess with a DJ mixing deck; it was the ultimate sporting and social oasis that the young people were able to engage with! Along with lots of picture-snapping and posing  for updates to Facebook and Twitter, lots of the Newham young people and their peers tried their hand at almost every activity available!

Never seen this before! And I'm sure neither have you!
Welcome to Roller Ski!

Newham teen (black shirt at back) waits impatiently
to have a go at parkour

With lots to pack in during  our four and a half hour stay, I can safely say the event was a success, a great sight to see and absolutely fun-filled.

activeNewham’s participation in this by supervising the 200 young people continues to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that Newham youth live active and sporting lives and get the opportunity to experience such amazing activities taking place within walking distance of where most of them live. With lots of sport camps and activities coordinated during the summer in the borough, it was a lovely opportunity for staff members to observe and attend an externally organised event take place at the Olympic Park which benefited lots of young people from near and far.

“Legacy” lives on!