On World Health Day, World Athletics is calling on children worldwide to MOVE, PLAY, and EXPLORE as they celebrate Kids’ Athletics Day 2023. This annual event, which takes place on May 7th, is dedicated to promoting the participation of children and young people in athletics and encouraging them to be more active.
Kids’ Athletics Day is the foundation of World Athletics’ Kids’ Athletics programme, an exciting initiative that harnesses the power of athletics to inspire children and young people to develop their skills, confidence, and connect with sports for life. Since its launch in 2002, the Kids Athletics Programme has been implemented by over 100 Member Federations, reaching an estimated cumulative audience of more than 13 million children and young people.
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In response to the recent World Health Organization Physical Activity report, which revealed that 81% of young people globally are considered inactive, World Athletics aims to play its part in getting the world moving by offering children and young people the opportunity to participate in fun, positive, and safe environments. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe believes that every child has a fundamental right to have access to sports, regardless of where they are in the world or their individual circumstances.
World Athletics has set an ambitious goal of getting 400,000 children active on May 7th, the highest-ever level of participation in Kids’ Athletics Day. To achieve this, they have launched a global Kids’ Athletics Day Challenge to all Member Federations and continental Area Associations. The Member Federation and Area Association with the best participation rates and overall innovation will receive a one-off Kids’ Athletics MF Challenge award and a US$10,000 one-off Kids’ Athletics Area Challenge award, respectively, to promote and activate Kids’ Athletics in their countries.
For children who do not have access to organised activities but want to participate in Kids’ Athletics Day, World Athletics will publish a “Kids’ Athletics at Home” toolkit in the coming weeks. The toolkit will provide all the necessary materials to get moving and can be printed off at home or school, allowing children to get active safely in their backyards, playgrounds, or with their friends.
World Athletics invites everyone taking part in Kids’ Athletics Day, whether through a club or organisation, at school, or at home, to share images from their celebrations using the hashtag #KidsAthleticsDay. The organisation’s goal is to be as inclusive as possible and reach as many children as possible worldwide to get them moving.
