The borough's young athletes will be well-prepared for this year's London Youth Games and Mini-Games - thanks to a £40,000 sponsorship deal with Chelsea Football Club.

The two-year agreement, secured by Hammersmith & Fulham Council's sports development team, includes a distinctive sports kit for all young athletes, which features the Chelsea FC and council logos, as well as money for travel, training and publicity to support the borough's squads in the annual London Youth Games and Mini-Games.

The smart new kit, including t-shirts, caps and hooded tops, was worn for the first time by children taking part in a free half-term Mini-Olympics sports event at Hurlingham Park, Fulham, organised by the council's sports development team.

Children and young people who attend state and independent schools in Hammersmith & Fulham or those who live locally are eligible to represent the borough in the London Youth Games and Mini-Games, where sports range from volleyball, table tennis and martial arts to football, cricket and angling. The borough squads and entries to the games are co-ordinated by the council's sports development team.

Last year Hammersmith & Fulham improved its place in the London Youth Games - moving up 12 places to 16th overall out of the 33 London boroughs.

The borough's mayor, Cllr Charlie Treloggan, said: "This generous sponsorship from Chelsea Football Club will help ensure our young athletes receive the support and training they deserve to help prepare them for competing at the annual London Youth Games and Mini-Games. They can also take a great deal of pride in wearing their smart new kit. Hopefully we can build on our improvement in last year's Youth Games.
We want to encourage more children and young people to lead healthier lives by getting involved in sport and we are fully backing London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics."

Peter Kenyon, Chelsea Football Club chief executive, said: "Chelsea is absolutely committed to encouraging sport in the borough. We are delighted to be sponsoring the borough's young athletes for the next two years and wish them every success in this year's London Youth Games and Mini-Games."

The announcement of the sponsorship deal comes a week after news that the Linford Christie Stadium in White City will receive a £600,000 cash injection from Barclays and the Football Foundation. With the backing of Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Chelsea Football Club, Barclays Spaces for Sports announced that the facility based in Du Cane Road will be improved and extended with a full-size multi-sports pitch and warm-up area thanks to a unique funding package.

The London Youth Games begins on Saturday (4 June) with the finals taking place at Crystal Palace on 2 and 3 July. More than 20,000 children and young people from the 33 London boroughs will compete in 28 different sports. The Mini-Games, for younger children, begins on 30 June with finals also at Crystal Palace on 2 and 3 July.