A pop-up 3×3 basketball court in Paternoster Square, created by Central London Alliance to showcase how innovative public spaces can foster community and sport, is set to welcome back Commonwealth Games gold medallists this week.

On Thursday, 6 August, from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, Team England's Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning men's 3×3 basketball team — Jamell Anderson, Ashley Hamilton, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye and Evan Walshe — will return to the court beneath St Paul's Cathedral, bringing their gold medals back to the location where they helped launch London's celebrations ahead of the Games.

The visit marks a full-circle moment for the initiative. In May, Central London Alliance partnered with Team England to deliver the London celebration of the King's Baton Relay, welcoming the men's, women's, and wheelchair women's 3×3 basketball squads to Paternoster Square. During that event, athletes conducted coaching sessions, demonstrations, and competitions with schoolchildren, workers, residents, and visitors, inspiring thousands in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games.

The court has now hosted not one but two Commonwealth champion teams. Both Team England's men's 3×3 basketball team and England's wheelchair women's 3×3 basketball team returned from the Games as gold medallists. The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games marked the first time 3×3 basketball appeared on the programme, giving the squad's appearance in Paternoster Square added significance as the fast-paced, half-court format made its debut at a major multi-sport event following its introduction at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The court is part of Central London Alliance's London Sports Festival, an initiative reimagining central London's public spaces through sport. Since opening, the activation has attracted thousands of participants through free coaching sessions, corporate challenges, junior coaching, inclusive community programmes, wheelchair basketball, fitness classes, and tournaments — transforming one of the City's busiest squares into a hub for activity and connection. The initiative also reflects a wider push by central London business and civic groups to animate public realm spaces with cultural and sporting activations as footfall patterns in the City continue to evolve.

The programme was delivered in partnership with Blue Orchid Hospitality, Book It Please, and Cheapside Business Alliance, with support from the City of London Corporation and London 3×3. National Lottery funding from Sport England enabled Central London Alliance to provide professional coaching and equipment throughout the programme.

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. When we installed a 3×3 basketball court in the heart of the City of London, our ambition was not simply to build a sports court. It was to create a destination that would bring together businesses, residents, visitors and communities through the power of sport, while showcasing London's ability to host world-class experiences in unexpected places."

"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. To now welcome back both the men's and wheelchair women 3×3 basketball teams as Commonwealth champions is incredibly special. It demonstrates what can happen when innovation, partnership and community come together."

"Central London Alliance is proud to be an enabler – creating the platforms, partnerships and opportunities that allow people, places and sport to thrive. We hope seeing these champions return with their gold medals will inspire many more people to pick up a basketball and discover the life-changing benefits of sport."

Members of the public are invited to visit Paternoster Square on Thursday, 6 August between 12:00pm and 2:00pm to meet the Commonwealth champions, view their gold medals, take photographs with the team, hear about their journey, and enjoy the continuing programme of activities at the London Sports Festival's 3×3 basketball court.

Further information and the full London Sports Festival programme are available at www.londonsportsfestival.com.