Around 1,500 schoolchildren from the local community visited Alexandra Palace for a special Schools’ Day ahead of the 10th annual Haringey Box Cup.
The tournament is the largest boxing event in Europe, outside of the Olympic Games, and the pre-event Schools’ Day included special information for pupils, as well as activities provided by the Metropolitan Police and Tottenham Hotspur, among others.
The aim of the day was to showcase the opportunities available for local youngsters and stress the importance of mixing education with physical activity.
Event organiser Gerry Willmott hopes it benefits youths, saying: “The youth day event we hold as a prelude to the Box Cup, we bring 1,500 kids together in a safe, friendly environment away from post codes, where they’re not under pressure”
Willmott also added that he felt it was important for kids to interact and speak with people who are in working roles, adding: “It’s good for them to see sides of the police and sides of the army they don’t see every day. They actually get to speak to these people and see what opportunities are available to them when they leave school.”
Previous winners at the Box Cup include Olympic and world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, and former Haringey BC amateur and double Olympic gold-medalist Nicola Adams.
Wilmott hopes having these positive role models will inspire youngsters into boxing, adding: “Nicola Adams and Anthony Joshua are two household names, they’ve both competed in and won the Box Cup. Kids have positive role models and if that gets them into boxing, away from negative things, it’s positive, regardless of if they become successful.”
Tottenham in the Community were one of many groups on hand and a small 5-a-side pitch was set up in the hall for children to engage with staff and play football.
A spokeswoman said: “The main aim is for the local community and young people to understand the opportunities available through sport.
“We’re really happy to support this event and demonstrate by working in partnership and provide pathways for young people. We’ve done the event previously.
“Because of the stadium regeneration (White Hart Lane) we wanted to come down and demonstrate what’s on offer.”
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