MONDAY 20 JUNE 2011
MEDIA RELEASE
JUDO GLORY FOR BARNET YOUNGSTER
David Medzinskii of Barnet brought some local pride to the borough at the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games judo finals at the National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace on Saturday 18 June.
The 16 year old of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School won a gold and a silver in the male senior U50kg and U55kg class respectively. Barnet finished 12th in the male team competition. There were around 250 young people who took part in the prestigious city-wide competition.
After receiving his medal, the delighted youngster said:
I’ve won gold twice already and then bronze a third year before, so I was hoping to do reasonably well. The fact I was moved up a category kind of hindered me for a moment, but I think I did quite well. I was prepared for it.
It means quite a lot to represent Barnet here because last year I was chosen as Barnet’s Sportsperson of the year. So I like to represent them and do well to show that Barnet is quite good in terms of sport.
I think the London Youth Games is really well organised so they can fit in so many competitions at once. It is a really good opportunity for everyone to compare themselves against everyone else in London .
I’ve already competed in several national competitions, and been to squad training with the BJC, so I would like to progress through the ranks.”
England and Arsenal ladies footballer Rachel Yankey, one of only eight footballers to have been awarded over 100 England international caps is patron of the 2011 Balfour Beatty London Youth Games.
She said:
Congratulations to David Medzinskii. To win a gold and a silver medal at the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games is a fantastic achievement. Let’s face it, London is one of the greatest cities in the world and will be hosting the world’s biggest sporting event in 2012.
To prove yourself as being amongst the most talented young sportsmen in London when competitive sport enjoys such a high profile in the city is a real accomplishment. Well done!”
The Balfour Beatty London Youth Games is Europe ’s largest annual youth sports event. Funded by Sport England National Lottery, the event enjoyed the most successful year in its 34 year history in 2010 with over 64,000 participants aged 7-18 from 33 London borough teams taking part in 60 competitions across 30 sports.
Former participants in the London Youth Games include Commonwealth and European judo medallist Winston Gordon, England and Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand and multiple Paralympic gold medallist David Weir.
The 2011 season covers 26 competition days through to finals weekend at the National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace on July 2/3. For more information on how to participate or volunteer at the London Youth Games, see www.londonyouthgames.org
If you require any further information about the above or other local sport please contact the Barnet Sport Development Team on sport@barnet.gov.uk or 0208 359 7817/8 or visit www.barnet.gov.uk/sport
2011 LONDON YOUTH GAMES VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCN6XcroYPw
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About Balfour Beatty London Youth Games (BBLYG)
• BBLYG are unique because they involve all 33 London Boroughs and 26 National Governing Bodies (NGBs)
• The Balfour Beatty London Youth Games are open to all Londoners aged 7-18
• Balfour Beatty are the title sponsor of the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games until 2013
• Partners include Sport England, London Councils, Thames Water
• Sport England invests National Lottery and Exchequer funding in organisations and projects that will grow and sustain participation in grassroots sport and create opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport. For more information, see www.sportengland.org
• London Councils is committed to fighting for more resources for London and getting the best possible deal for London 's 33 councils. London Councils has a website about its grants service. To read about our grants funding and the work of some of the 300 groups we support please visit www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/grants
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Chris Broadbent, Communications Manager
T: 020 7717 1571
M: 07736 344744
E: chris@londonyouthgames.org
W: www.londonyouthgames.org