Team England’s gold medal-winning men’s 3×3 basketball squad will return to the court beneath St Paul’s Cathedral this week, showcasing their Commonwealth Games victory at the same location that hosted their pre-Games celebrations.
The four athletes—Jamell Anderson, Ashley Hamilton, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, and Evan Walshe—will appear at Paternoster Square on Thursday, August 6, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.. Fans can meet the players, view their medals, and take photographs with the champions.
From celebration to victory
The court, set up by the Central London Alliance for the London Sports Festival, first hosted the athletes in May during the King’s Baton Relay. The men’s, women’s, and wheelchair women’s 3×3 basketball teams led coaching sessions, demonstrations, and competitions for schoolchildren, office workers, and tourists.
Both the men’s team and the wheelchair women’s team now return as gold medalists. The temporary court has come to represent how elite sport and community participation can thrive together in central London.
The project aimed to transform public spaces through sport. Since its opening, the court has hosted free coaching, corporate challenges, youth programs, wheelchair basketball, fitness classes, and tournaments. Thousands have taken part, turning the square into a center for activity and engagement.
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Partnerships and funding
The initiative was delivered with Blue Orchid Hospitality, Book It Please, and the Cheapside Business Alliance, backed by the City of London Corporation and London 3×3. Sport England provided professional coaching and equipment through National Lottery funding.
Tony Matharu, chairman of the Central London Alliance, said the moment confirmed the organization’s purpose. “This is why we exist—to rethink how our city functions,” he stated. “When we set up this court, our goal wasn’t just to build a sports facility. We wanted to create a place where businesses, residents, and visitors could connect through sport.”
He noted that welcoming back the champions demonstrates what happens when innovation, partnership, and community work together. “We hope seeing these athletes with their gold medals will encourage more people to try basketball,” Matharu added.
The court’s popularity suggests similar projects could become permanent in urban areas. While the festival remains temporary, the demand for accessible sports facilities in central London indicates a need for long-term solutions. The focus for now is on celebrating the athletes’ success and the court’s role in their journey.
The August 6 event will let visitors hear the team’s stories and join festival activities. More information about the London Sports Festival is available online.