Commonwealth champions bring gold medals back to the City square where their journey began

England's Commonwealth Games gold medallists in men's 3x3 basketball will return to Paternoster Square on Thursday, bringing their medals to the pop-up court beneath St Paul's Cathedral where they helped kick off London's pre-Games festivities in May. The appearance runs from 12pm to 2pm and is open to the public.

The four-man squad, Jamell Anderson, Ashley Hamilton, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye and Evan Walshe, were part of the King's Baton Relay event that transformed the square into a temporary sporting venue. Since then the court has hosted free coaching, wheelchair basketball sessions, corporate tournaments and community programmes as part of the London Sports Festival organised by the Central London Alliance.

A court with a purpose

The Central London Alliance, a business-led partnership, installed the court to test whether sport could animate a space better known for commuters and tourists. Tony Matharu, the Alliance's chairman, said the aim was never simply to build a court but to create a destination that connects businesses, residents and visitors through activity. National Lottery funding via Sport England covered professional coaching and equipment, while partners including Blue Orchid Hospitality, Book It Please and the Cheapside Business Alliance provided operational support.

"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 said.

What happens next

Thursday's event caps the festival's summer programme, but the Alliance hopes the court's success will encourage similar activations across the City. The full festival schedule remains online at londonsportsfestival.com, and organisers say they are already in discussions with the City of London Corporation about extending the concept into autumn.