Former Ellen Wilkinson student wins award

Ealing student Izzy Ryan has collected a prestigious award for volunteering at the London Youth Games.

The 20 year old was given the Rick Grice Spirit of the Games Award at the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games Hall of Fame & Annual Awards.

The annual event paid tribute to the coaches, volunteers, officials and participants who helped make the 2014 Games the biggest ever, whilst inducting former competitors who have gone on to world-class level into the Hall of Fame.

A student at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, 20 year old Izzy Ryan was a team leader for the volunteer workforce throughout the summer for London Youth Games.

She also officiated at basketball, cricket and ParaGames swimming and helped deliver Ealing’s own London Youth Games celebration evening at the end of the season.

The Rick Grice Spirt of the Games Award annually goes to the individual or group deemed to best capture the positive spirit of the Games.

After collecting her award, Izzy - a former Elllen Wilkinson student - said: “I was quite shocked, I didn't realize I was nominated for it, I feel so privileged to have it. It's an amazing award and I'm so grateful to be lucky enough to get it.

“I first started volunteering through university. I got an email with all these different volunteering opportunities - I tried one of them out and ever since I've been stuck on it. It's the people that make you come back and I've loved it, all of my time here.

“There's so many different training opportunities, I've got my level 1 refereeing for basketball, regional Boccia officiating, timekeeping for swimming, and in athletics my level 2 track and field officials award. I would never have got that if I hadn't been with London Youth Games. I also have my level 1 volunteering award for Sports Leaders.”

As well as the volunteer, coaches and partners’ awards, Commonwealth weightlifting champion Zoe Smith, learning disability World Champion swimmer Craig Maote and former LA Lakers basketball player Steve Bucknall were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The evening was a major celebration of the 2014 London Youth Games, the biggest in history with 126,897 participants. The list of winners and nominees is below. Winners in bold.

18th September 2014