• World Athletics aims to engage 400,000 kids in athletic activity on Kids’ Athletics Day 2023 to counter worrying global inactivity rates
• World Athletics targeting the highest ever level of participation in Kids’ Athletics Day across Member Federations and Area Associations
Today, on World Health Day, World Athletics is inviting kids across the world to MOVE, PLAY, EXPLORE in celebration of Kids’ Athletics Day 2023.
An annual celebration which takes place on 7 May, Kids’ Athletics Day is a global day entirely dedicated to celebrating children and young people being active by participating in athletics.
Kids’ Athletics Day is the cornerstone of World Athletics’ Kids’ Athletics programme – a free and exciting programme that uses the power of athletics to inspire children and young people, wherever they are, to be more active, develop their skills and confidence, and to connect with sport for life.
Kids’ Athletics is one of the biggest grassroots development programmes in the world of sport and since the original Kids Athletics Programme was launched in 2002, it has been implemented by more than 100 Member Federations and has reached an estimated cumulative audience of more than 13 million children and young people.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “We believe that every child is born to move, to play and to explore. No matter where they are in the world or their individual circumstances, it’s their fundamental right to have access to sport.
“In response to the recent World Health Organisation Physical Activity report highlighting the fact that 81% of youth globally are considered inactive, World Athletics is aiming to play its part in getting the world moving by offering children and young people the opportunity to participate in a fun, positive and safe environment – with the goal of providing quality experiences in physical activity and sport.
“Our objective is simple; we want all kids to get active so that they can live happier and healthier lives.”
In order to achieve its ambitious goal of getting 400,000 children active on 7 May – the highest ever level of participation in Kids’ Athletics Day – World Athletics has launched a global Kids’ Athletics Day Challenge to all of its Member Federations (MFs) and continental Area Associations.
The Member Federation with the best Kids’ Athletics Day activation – measured by a combination of participation rates, social media engagement levels and overall innovation – will be awarded a prize including a US$10,000 one-off Kids’ Athletics MF Challenge award to be used to promote and activate Kids’ Athletics (or an equivalent youth activity) in their country.
In addition, the Area Association with the best participation rate (based on a cumulative score of the participating MFs in each Area using the same measures as the MF Challenge described above, and considering the activities undertaken by the Area to promote Kids’ Athletics Day) will also be eligible for a US$10,000 one-off Kids’ Athletics Area Challenge award to be used to promote and activate Kids’ Athletics at an Area Championships*.
How to get involved
For children who don’t have access to an organised activity but wish to join in the fun on Kid’s Athletics Day, World Athletics will publish a “Kids’ Athletics at Home” toolkit in the coming weeks, which will provide all the basics to get moving. The toolkit can easily be printed off at home or at school so that kids can get active in their own backyards, with their friends, in the playground at school – or wherever they can practice sport safely.
World Athletics will be sharing photos of people, events and organisations across the world who have joined us to celebrate Kids’ Athletics Day. We invite everyone taking part in the day’s events, whether through a club or organisation, at school, or at home, to share images from their own celebrations using the hashtag #KidsAthleticsDay.
Our goal is to be as inclusive as possible, and to reach as many children as we can across the globe to get them moving!
Frederick Marfo is a sportswriter and social worker well known for his advocacy for equal chances and rights for all athletes, especially those with disabilities.
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