Team England’s Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning men’s 3×3 basketball team is set to return to Paternoster Square in central London on Thursday 6 August.
The players, Jamell Anderson, Ashley Hamilton, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye and Evan Walshe, will be at the square from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, medals in hand.
The court, situated beneath St Paul’s Cathedral, was where the team appeared during London’s celebrations ahead of the Commonwealth Games earlier this year.
Central London Alliance originally transformed Paternoster Square into a pop-up 3×3 basketball venue as part of an effort to animate central London through sport.
In May, the organisation partnered with Team England to deliver the London celebration of the King’s Baton Relay, welcoming multiple squads to the square.
The men’s, women’s and wheelchair women’s 3×3 basketball squads all attended, delivering coaching sessions, demonstrations and competitions with schoolchildren, workers and visitors.
Notably, both the men’s 3×3 basketball team and England’s wheelchair women’s 3×3 basketball team returned from the Commonwealth Games as gold medallists.
The court forms part of Central London Alliance’s London Sports Festival, which has welcomed thousands of participants through free coaching, inclusive programmes, wheelchair basketball and tournaments.
The activation has been delivered in partnership with Blue Orchid Hospitality, Book It Please and Cheapside Business Alliance, with support from the City of London Corporation, London 3×3 and National Lottery funding from Sport England.
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.”
Matharu added: “Working with Team England during the King’s Baton Relay gave thousands of people the opportunity to meet elite athletes before they travelled to the Commonwealth Games.”
He continued: “To now welcome back both the men’s and wheelchair women 3×3 basketball teams as Commonwealth champions is incredibly special.”
Matharu said the return demonstrates “what can happen when innovation, partnership and community come together” in one of the world’s leading cities.
Members of the public are invited to meet the champions, see the gold medals, take photographs and hear about the team’s journey at Paternoster Square on 6 August.
The full London Sports Festival programme is available at www.londonsportsfestival.com for those wishing to attend or take part in further activities.