From Milestones to New Horizons

A Year in Review with the Urban Youth Games

A new year is a time for reflection… for looking back on what went well the previous year so you can raise the bar and set ambitious goals for the year ahead. For this article, we had a conversation with Antoine Degavre, General Manager at the Urban Youth Games, who shares that even after five years, the excitement for the project continues to grow. “Each year brings new challenges and successes, making the Urban Youth Games more thrilling and rewarding than ever”.

1. What were the main objectives and goals of the past year, and did you achieve them?

The main objectives were consistent growth in all three Belgian regions, strengthened relationships with key stakeholders, enhanced inclusion in events and communication, and infusion of innovative ideas into our annual programme. I’m proud to say that we made a great leap forward over the past year. In 2023, the Urban Youth Games reached over 6200 kids across 7 events, with 127 participating schools from 48 cities. And we hosted our first national games in Molenbeek, which was a significant achievement.

2. What are some key highlights and successes that you are most proud of?

We take pride in securing support from the three national sport movements: Team Belgium, Paralympic Team Belgium, and Special Olympics Belgium during our national event. This collaboration symbolically created a new movement in terms of youth sports. The national edition in Molenbeek, which was a big challenge, is also a great achievement. Additionally, receiving certification from INTER.Vlaanderen as a 'toegankelijk event' was a substantial recognition for us.

3. What's your most unforgettable moment from the 2023 Urban Youth Games?

The first national event was the culmination of a year's preparation, involving just five team members working on it alongside other events. The positive vibes and smiles on the faces of the children after the event made it truly unforgettable. The children always give back more than what you invest in them.

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4. How do the Urban Youth Games contribute to promoting youth engagement in sports and healthy lifestyles?

Our goal is to provide children with positive and inspiring experiences through sports, showcasing benefits like movement, relaxation, laughter, new friendships, joy in effort, discovering talents, and receiving recognition. This encourages them to embrace a healthy and active lifestyle, addressing significant societal challenges like healthy weight management, promoting inclusion, and contributing to education.

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5. Was there an increase in participation and attendance compared to previous years?

Certainly! We experienced a remarkable 72% increase in participation at our events compared to 2022. This growth is attributed to additional events and host city partners, as well as an increase in capacity.

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6. Can you share some insights into the role of sponsors and partners in making the event a success?

Ideally, we align everything with sponsors and partners at the beginning of the year to plan visibility, production, activations, and communication. Going the extra mile with key partners by constantly thinking of new ideas and opportunities for activation before and during the event makes a significant difference. This approach helps make the event and the organisation as a whole a success.

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7. Can you already unveil what's in the pipeline for the Urban Youth Games 2024?

We have some exciting plans on the horizon. In 2024, the Urban Youth Games will take a European leap, with an event in Paris/Seine-Saint-Denis. We're adding two new team members to reinforce our operational developments in Events and Sports & Education. Also, we're set to announce our biggest private partner ever in January, alongside four other private partners. 2024 promises to be a unique year for us.

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