"VAN" (Sports Desk - 08.05.2024) :: World Athletics Member Federations, athletics clubs and people across the globe have kicked off celebrations for Kids’ Athletics Day on Tuesday (7 May) with the World Mile Challenge.
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. We believe that every child is born to move, play and explore no matter where they are in the world or their individual circumstance.
An exciting twist has been added to the 2024 Kids' Athletics Day theme – the World Mile Challenge. In honour of the 70th anniversary of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile on 6 May 1954, this year's focus is on running, jogging, or walking a mile. World Athletics and its Member Federations aim to engage 500,000 kids globally to 'Run the World' one mile at a time. To encourage participants to ‘go the extra mile’, there will be a global ‘total miles run’ calculator clocking the miles registered in real time between 1 and 19 May so that all participants can track their collective progress.
Already there is a tight race between Germany and Bhutan on the leaderboard, available via the World Mile Challenge web app which acts as a central hub for the campaign across the world, allowing athletics federations, clubs, schools, and individuals to register their miles.
As part of a bigger celebration event held by Oxford University Athletics Club & The British Milers Club in Oxford, England, on 6 May 2024, a one-mile road run was held for the general public to celebrate Bannister's achievement.
The event featured specific Kids’ Athletics Day waves, where entries were given to local children in support and celebration of Kids’ Athletics Day 2024. Primary schools in the Oxford area were also given the Kids’ Athletics Day/World Mile Challenge toolkit so that they can activate their own version of the World Mile Challenge and celebrate in their own school communities.
Kids’ Athletics Day and the start of China Kids’ Athletics Month is scheduled to take place on 11-12 May at the Kids’ Athletics Event Centre in Daxing District, Beijing. Their World Mile Challenge activation is anticipated to be a highlight of the event, which will have participation from more than 600 children from some 50 schools.
“This will be a fantastic opportunity for young athletes to showcase their skills and for all participants to enjoy an environment of friendly competition and cultural exchange,” said the Chinese Athletics Association.
A total of 11 Kids’ Athletics events will be held over Kids’ Athletics Month in addition to the Beijing event and will reach an estimated 10,000 children. Furthermore, the Chinese Athletics Association is coordinating with stars from the Chinese national athletics team to be there to inspire and encourage the children, providing them with a unique chance to meet and learn from top athletes.
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