The Innoskate Festival: Skateboarding event to run at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this weekend

A skateboarding festival is being held in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to coincide with qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 games.

The Innoskate Festival takes place tomorrow, Saturday May 25, with blind skateboarder Dan Mancina, para sportsman Oscar Loreto Jr and top female boarder Alexis Sablone all due to take to the half pipe.

This is the first time the festival, which is in its seventh year and started in Washington DC, will take place in the UK.

As well as live performances, there will be discussions with designers and policy-makers. Speakers for the programme will focus on four key elements: skate culture, the history of skating and the evolution of techniques, the relationships skaters hold as well as diversity and inclusion in skate culture.

The event will run alongside the World Skate Olympic Qualifying event at the nearby Copper Box Arena, happening on the same day.

In addition to skating, the free festival will offer learn-to-skate clinics and a best-trick contest.

Here East, a technology and innovation campus, is set to host the event.

Gavin Poole, chief executive of Here East, said: “Being chosen as the partner and host of Innoskate’ s first festival in the UK shows Here East’s commitment to creativity and innovation on an international scale.

"We are looking forward to bringing this festival to the area and continuing to build on our close ties with The Smithsonian Institute when they become part of East Bank.

"We welcome skaters of all abilities and non-skaters alike to come to Here East and enjoy the Innoskate event.”

For more information, visit hereeast.com