Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, have announced that it is to extend its sponsorship of the London Youth Games, Europe's largest youth sport programme, until at least 2015.

This commitment is central to securing a healthy future for the Games in the period beyond the London Olympiad and will contribute to the creation of a long-term sporting and volunteering legacy for London. This new commitment will see £1.1 million go to funding grass roots London sport after 2012. During the period 2007-2015 Balfour Beatty will have contributed £2.5million to London youth sport.

Andrew McNaughton, Balfour Beatty Chief Operating Officer, commented: "It is vitally important that we use the 2012 Olympic Games as a springboard for active participation in sport across the country and in London, in particular. Our partnership with the London Youth Games is a key part of our mission to help young people make the best of themselves and this extension will ensure that forward momentum is maintained."

-- Advertisement --

In the period since 2007, when Balfour Beatty took up the sponsorship of the Games, participation levels have approximately tripled to over 70,000 young people. Among disabled athletes the figure has quadrupled to 5,500.

In addition to underpinning the core costs of the Games and helping fund its growth, Balfour Beatty's support also involves the provision of grants to individual London boroughs to help develop sports facilities and activities at a local level. Over the last five years, in partnership with "Help A Capital Child", the company has given more than £300,000 to support schemes across London, bringing new opportunities to 15,000 young people. Its involvement has also encouraged more than 3,500 young people to volunteer to help at the Games to date.

The news was announced at the School Games finals of the 2012 Balfour Beatty London Youth Games at the National Sports Centre Crystal Palace where 3,000 primary aged youngsters from right across London competed in eight sports.

(CD)