Kofi Amoa Prah leads the IAAF Kids' Athletics in Berlin (© Getty Images)
BerlinJust hours before the 4th leg of the IAAF Golden League got underway in Berlin, 90 lucky children representing the different clubs of the city of Berlin gathered in front of the Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sportpark to take part in an IAAF Kids’ Athletics event.
Long Jumper Kofi Amoa Prah, who lives just a few minutes drive from the sportpark responded to the IAAF’s call and spent almost two hours with the delighted children.
A fifth place finisher at the Sydney Olympics, Prah has spent the whole of 2003 recovering from knee surgery and will resume training this September with the aim of taking part in the Athens 2004 Olympics.
“I love working with kids. Each time I am asked to help out in children’s training camps I am delighted to go and help.
“I really enjoyed this Kids’ Athletics today. It is the perfect way for teaching athletics to youngsters. It presents the sport as game, as something fun, as an activity they can all be good at.”
Gina, 10-years of age, and Aileen, 7, both members of the purple team, were delighted to have been selected for the Kids’ Athletics project.
“It’s such a lot of fun,” explained Gina. “We’ve done jumping, throwing and running but I think my favourite today was the javelin.”
The day was a learning experience not just for the younger ones but also for the older ones as proud parents were closely following their children’s performances.
“My son Jacob, the small one kid in the red T-shirt, is having an excellent time,” said a young mother. “He’s really been looking forward to this Kids Atheltics’ and I personally think it’s a great initiative for the children. I would love it if my son decided to take up this sport seriously.”
The IAAF Kids’ Athletics 2003 tour will now travel to Monaco on 10 September, just a few days before the inaugural IAAF World Athletics Final.
