The Innoskate Festival, the first of its kind outside the US, welcomed skateboarders and skateboarding fans to the Olympic Park to listen to panel discussions, take on the skate park track and engage with organisations committed to invention, innovation and education.

Hosted by Here East, a technology and innovation campus, those in attendance alongside the Foundation included Autodesk, London’s Global University UCL, the Smithsonian, The Far Academy and USA Skateboarding.

Foundation staff delivered our Robot Football game to attendees and showcased how football and coding can be educational and fun via football. We also adapted our robot football game with Sphero, to take on ramps and tricks with the skateboarders.

Chelsea Foundation head of education Matt Mead said: ‘Being part of Innoskate 2019 here in London was a fantastic experience for the Foundation. Working alongside forward-thinking organisations such as USA skateboarding, the Smithsonian, UCL, Autodesk and the Far Academy was a reward for our work and expertise in this area.

‘Skateboarding and football may not appear to be connected at first glance, but when you watch the boarders perform tricks, get up and persevere after falling or crashing and how they support each other, you start to see many similarities between the sports.

‘Skateboarding is an expression of freedom and creativity but key skills of resilience, determination and invention are embedded in the sport. With skateboarding being included in the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo, that will be a watershed moment for the sport and the world can see the complexities and skills needed to compete at pro skateboarding.

‘Alongside the practical element of the day, it was a pleasure to share our own innovation work and showcase Robot Football with Innoskate attendees and work with children and adults.

‘Being included in the day with global brands such as the Smithsonian and Autodesk, shows how the Chelsea FC Foundation are now considered a leader within innovation and education and share a platform with organisations trying to change the world.’