Commonwealth Gold Medallists Return to the Court That Helped Inspire London

Image credit: Central London Alliance

When Central London Alliance transformed Paternoster Square into a vibrant destination for sport, community and wellbeing with a pop-up 3x3 basketball court, it set out to demonstrate how innovative use of public spaces could inspire participation, animate central London and bring people together through sport.

Now, just months later, that vision has come full circle.

On Thursday 6 August, from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, Basketball England's Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning men's 3x3 basketball team - Jamell Anderson, Ashley Hamilton, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye and Evan Walshe - will return to the very same court beneath St Paul's Cathedral, proudly bringing their gold medals back to the place where they helped launch London's celebrations ahead of the Games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image Credit: Basketball England

In May, Central London Alliance welcomed the King's Baton Relay, the men's and wheelchair women’s 3x3 basketball squads to Paternoster Square, London. The athletes delivered coaching sessions, demonstrations and competitions with schoolchildren, workers, residents and visitors, inspiring thousands ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

The achievement is a testament not only to the athletes but also to the power of creating opportunities for elite sport and grassroots participation to exist side by side in the heart of one of the world's leading cities.

The court forms part of Central London Alliance's London Sports Festival, an initiative that is reimagining central London's public spaces through sport. Since opening, the activation has welcomed thousands of participants through free coaching sessions, corporate challenges, junior coaching, inclusive community programmes, wheelchair basketball, fitness classes and tournaments, transforming one of the City's busiest squares into a thriving destination for activity and connection.

Image credit: Central London Alliance

The activation has been delivered in partnership with Blue Orchid Hospitality, Book It Please, Cheapside Business Alliance and with support from the City of London Corporation and London 3x3, with National Lottery funding from Sport England enabling Central London Alliance to provide professional coaching and equipment throughout the programme.

Tony Matharu, Chairman of Central London Alliance, said:

"This is exactly why Central London Alliance exists - to think differently about how our city works and how we can transform public spaces into places that inspire people.

When we installed a 3x3 basketball court in the heart of the City of London, our ambition was not simply to build a sports court. It was to create a destination that would bring together businesses, residents, visitors and communities through the power of sport, while showcasing London's ability to host world-class experiences in unexpected places.

The King's Baton Relay gave thousands of people the opportunity to meet elite athletes before they travelled to the Commonwealth Games. To witness both the men's and wheelchair women 3x3 basketball teams as Commonwealth champions is incredibly special. It demonstrates what can happen when innovation, partnership and community come together.

Central London Alliance is proud to be an enabler - creating the platforms, partnerships and opportunities that allow people, places and sport to thrive. We hope seeing these champions return with their gold medals will inspire many more people to pick up a basketball and discover the life-changing benefits of sport."

Members of the public are invited to visit Paternoster Square on Thursday 6 August between 12:00pm and 2:00pm to meet the Commonwealth champions, see their gold medals, take photographs with the team, hear about their journey and enjoy the continuing programme of activities at the London Sports Festival's 3x3 basketball court.

Further information and the full London Sports Festival programme can be found at www.londonsportsfestival.com.

London Sports Festival Brings Panna Football to The Crescent

London Sports Festival is set to introduce another exciting urban sport to the capital with the launch of a new panna football activation at The Crescent, opposite the award-winning Tower Suites hotel by Blue Orchid Hospitality.

Known for its fast-paced style, close control and street football culture, panna football will transform The Crescent in Aldgate into a lively destination for sport, entertainment and community participation, inviting workers, residents and visitors to test their skills and Play Their Part. 

The Crescent, previously home to the City’s first pop-up padel court, earning its place in the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS book from previous activations led by Central London Alliance, will soon be welcoming more visitors as Tower Suites opens up the Crescent buildings. The Crescent, a stunning collection of Georgian buildings, adjoins Blue Orchid’s multi award-winning Tower Suites hotel and benefits from views of the Tower of London and the historic Roman Wall, in a prime City location.

Participants will have the chance to experience the creativity and energy of panna football in a fun and welcoming environment as other football themed games will be available to play. Donations for play will go to the city-wide Saving Lives campaign– Central London Alliance’s mission to train 4,000 people in CPR for another world record attempt.

Opening on the first day as the official Men’s World Cup Football tournament, screens will show matches in the adjacent bars and restaurants. Local businesses will also be encouraged to take part offering teams a unique opportunity to connect and compete in the heart of the city. Alongside this, community groups and schools will be invited to attend dedicated sessions aimed at encouraging young people and local residents to be active, build confidence and experience a different side of football culture.

Delivered as part of Central London Alliance’s wider London Sports Festival programme, in partnership with Aldgate Connect BID, the activation continues their mission of activating unused spaces and making physical activity more accessible across central London.

Tony Matharu, Chairman of Central London Alliance said:

“London Sports Festival is about bringing energy, opportunity and community into the heart of our city through sport. Our activations in the Crescent are a brilliant example of how we can transform underused public spaces into vibrant destinations that encourage people to connect, be active and experience London in new and exciting ways.

“The Crescent has already shown what is possible through previous sporting activations, and we are proud to continue building on that success with another accessible and engaging experience for workers, residents, visitors, schools and local businesses alike.

“As the Men’s World Cup football competition begins, this activation will create a fantastic atmosphere in Tower Hill – celebrating football culture while supporting local businesses, encouraging participation and showcasing the power of sport to bring communities together.”

Claire Dumontier-Marriage, BID Director at Aldgate Connect BID said:

“Sporting installations are a fantastic way to bring energy and fun into Aldgate’s public spaces. We’ve been delighted to be a partner in hosting a range of innovative experiences that have taken place in The Crescent, and we’re excited to join Central London Alliance to see it transformed once again through Panna Football. 

“At Aldgate Connect BID, we are passionate about creating a vibrant and welcoming destination for everyone who lives, works and visits the area, and London Sports Festival is a great example of how activations like this support community cohesion and bring people together.

“We encourage all local workers, residents, visitors and the wider community to take part and experience the energy that this different side of football can bring.”

The announcement follows a growing series of London Sports Festival activations across the capital, including pickleball, padel, basketball and table tennis experiences, all designed to animate the city and encourage participation through inclusive and engaging sporting experiences.

Further details, including how to book can be found on the London Sports Festival website.

London Celebrates 3x3 Basketball with a One Day Pop-Up

Image credit @stark.image 

London Sports Festival is set to bring the energy of street basketball to the capital with a 3x3 basketball pop-up event in Paternoster Square.

With only two weeks to go, here’s how you can participate in the one-day event on 26 May.

Transforming one of central London’s most iconic public spaces into a dynamic 3x3 basketball court, Central London Alliance is offering a one day event on 26 May ahead of their 18-day 3x3 programme, as part of London Sports Festival, later this summer.

The event will offer a day of free, inclusive activities designed for all ages and abilities. From fast-paced corporate challenges to engaging community sessions, visitors, residents and workers will have the opportunity to experience the excitement of 3x3 basketball in a vibrant, festival-style setting. Here’s what’s on:

• Free Junior coaching sessions for local schools and community clubs
• Giveaways and competitions with prizes up for grabs for local workers, residents and visitors
• Free 3x3 wheelchair basketball session run by the London Titans
• Pay and play sessions for private use
• Corporate Challenges

Whether picking up a 3x3 basketball for the first time or competing with colleagues, participants can expect a welcoming and high-energy environment that celebrates sport in all its forms.

Delivered by Central London Alliance in partnership with Blue Orchid Hospitality, the activation continues the London Sports Festival’s commitment to transforming everyday city spaces into hubs of activity, encouraging Londoners, workers and visitors alike to be active and experience London in new and exciting ways.

This one-day 3x3 basketball pop-up offers just a taste of what’s to come later this summer, as the London Sports Festival builds towards an expanded programme of activations, community events and sporting experiences across the capital,

To reserve your place at any of the above sessions, visit here and to view the full London Sports Festival programme visit www.londonsportsfestival.com.

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Golden Table Tennis Takes Over London to Celebrate the Sport’s Centenary Homecoming

Central London is set to shine this spring as ten striking gold table tennis tables appear across the capital as part of London Sports Festival, celebrating the centenary year of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals as its return to the capital 100 years later.

Players at the London Sports Festival 2025. Image courtesy of Central London Alliance CIC

Delivered in partnership between Central London Alliance and Table Tennis England, the activation will run from 8 April through to June, inviting Londoners, workers and visitors to pick up a bat, explore the city and join the celebrations.

Each table will feature a unique motif, inspired by the 100-year journey of the sport and the Championships to become one of the most played and watched sports in the world. Members of the public are encouraged to download the official map, available from 8 April, track down the tables, and uncover the full set of pictograms for a chance to win tickets to the upcoming ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals at OVO Arena Wembley on the 10^th May, along with a range of other prizes.

The table locations will span the capital from Victoria and Westminster to Tower Hill. In an exciting sneak preview, and building on from last year’s popular padel court, one of the golden tables will be installed outside the prestigious St Paul’s Cathedral, with several others featuring in the City of London. The installation will take the form of a padel-style table tennis court, giving participants an unforgettable opportunity to play this unique sport beneath one of London’s most iconic landmarks.

Adding to the excitement, special guests from Table Tennis England will be visiting selected tables on 8 April and again on 23 April — World Table Tennis Day — offering top tips, fun challenges and free giveaways to help inspire players of all ages and abilities.

Tony Matharu, Chairman of Central London Alliance commented:

“We are delighted to partner with Table Tennis England to bring this vibrant installation to the heart of the capital as part of London Sports Festival. The golden tables are about more than just sport - they’re about celebrating London’s global sporting heritage, encouraging active travel across the city and creating memorable moments in some of our most iconic spaces.”

The initiative forms part of the build-up to the highly anticipated World Table Tennis Championships, which will see the world’s best athletes compete in London during this landmark centenary year for the sport. The Championships promise world-class action, an electric atmosphere and a celebration of table tennis’ global legacy. Spectators are encouraged to secure their seats early to be part of this historic sporting moment.

Table Tennis England Chief Executive Sally Lockyer said:

“Bringing the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals back to London in its centenary year is a landmark moment for our sport. The centenary tables will help introduce new audiences to table tennis, inspire future players and build excitement ahead of welcoming the world’s best athletes to London.”

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:

“Bringing these golden tables to the Square Mile is a fun, accessible way for people to get active and enjoy some of the City’s most iconic spaces – exactly the kind of initiative we want to see as we continue to develop the Square Mile as a global destination for sport.”

Further details on table locations, how to enter the competition and event updates will be available via Central London Alliance, London Sports Festival and Table Tennis England channels.

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London Sports Festival is a unique festival of sporting installations and activations across the capital in some of London’s most iconic locations together with hidden streets and leafy backwaters. London Sports Festival is a place where workers, residents and visitors can enjoy the capital and build lasting relationships through sport. The festival offers a diverse range of sports ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy. The full programme can be found at www.londonsportsfestival.com

London Sports Festival is brought to you by Central London Alliance CIC

Central London Alliance, a Community Interest Company, was formed to support a sustainable, economic recovery of London’s business, hospitality, cultural, tourism, and retail sectors and to help both employers and workers to survive through coronavirus and beyond. Politically independent and supported by organisations of varying sizes and sectors, the Central London Alliance CIC works towards a strong economic recovery of central London, ensuring its continued viability as a leading global city.

www.centrallondonalliance.com

About the City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK –  www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

The vision of its sport strategy is to make the Square Mile a global sports destination, by offering attractive and valued sport facilities, venues, activations and events for residents, workers and visitors.

About Table Tennis England

Table Tennis England is the governing body of the sport in England, responsible for administering, promoting and developing the sport.

Tickets for the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026 are on sale now and can be booked via the event website.

London Sports Festival Returns to the Capital

Central London Alliance’s London Sports Festival 2025 launch event in the City of London Corporation’s Guildhall Yard

 

Central London Alliance, the organisers of London Sports Festival are proud to announce the return of the capital’s most vibrant celebration of sport, activity and community, set to take place across London in 2026.

Bringing together people of all ages and abilities, the festival will transform central London into a dynamic hub of participation, showcasing a wide range of sports, live activations, and community-led events.

From grassroots engagement to elite-level inspiration and professional athlete visits, London Sports Festival aims to encourage healthier lifestyles, strengthen community connections, and highlight the city’s reputation as a global leader in sport, culture and innovation.

Pickleball in Guildhall Yard, part of Central London Alliance’s London Sports Festival 2025 with support from the City of London Corporation
 

Building on the success of previous years, which saw over 30,000 participants, the 2026 festival will feature a thrilling lineup of sports activations across iconic central London locations and hidden streets designed to increase access to sport and physical activity across the capital. Businesses, schools, visitors, and local residents are invited to Play their Part. With key moments to be announced soon, the festival is kicking off with some of last year’s favourites:

• Pickleball at St James’s Park Station (18 February – 1 April)
• Padel Table Tennis at Tower Suites Walkway (18 February – 3 April)
• Padel at Tower Hill Terrace (12 March – 25 October)
• Padel at Hay’s Galleria (19 March – 23 August)

London Sports Festival 2026 will also support local businesses, drive footfall into central London, and contribute to the city’s continued recovery and vibrancy by activating public spaces and celebrating the diversity and energy of London’s sporting community.

Chairman of Central London Alliance CIC Tony Matharu commented: “London Sports Festival 2026 is about utilising the unique power of sport to bring people together. By transforming and animating everyday spaces into places of activity, we create opportunities for communities, businesses and visitors to connect, enjoy and experience London in new and exciting ways. This is just the beginning of what will be a season of energy, participation and celebration across the capital.”