IaafNews15 May 2016


World Athletics Day celebrated far and wide

FacebookTwitterEmail

World Athletics Day activities in Monaco (© IAAF)

Once again, IAAF World Athletics Day reached all continents around the world with more than 100 member federations taking part.

St Lucia, Pakistan, Monaco, Australia, Kenya, Hong Kong, Bermuda and Italy are just some of the 117 nations that held activities and competitions for young athletes between the ages of 13 and 17.

Now in its 21st year, the annual worldwide athletics festival offers the opportunity to promote the sport through youth participation in clubs and schools.

This year’s celebrations are preferably being held on the weekend of 14-15 May, although some countries have marked the occasion sooner.

When it began in 1996, World Athletics Day was initially aimed exclusively at children who were members of clubs affiliated to IAAF member federations. In recent years, the scope of the project has broadened to include the participation of school children in team competitions and has now become an important tool to promote the sport around the world.

World Athletics Day is part of the IAAF's social responsibility project Athletics for a Better World, harnessing the extraordinary commitment and energy of the worldwide athletics family to inspire lasting development.

IAAF