Kenya wins Kids' Athletics Day challenge
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 09.05.25. | 21:30
Six hundred coaches, teachers and volunteers from schools and clubs from multiple counties across the country organised Kids’ Athletics Day relay events, reaching more than 140,500 children
Athletics Kenya (AK) has been selected as the winning Member Federation of the Kids’ Athletics Day challenge after contributing almost a quarter of the participants in the ‘Relay Around the World’.
Around the globe, more than 600,000 children across all six continental areas participated in over 1200 activations to promote Kids’ Athletics Day – a global day dedicated to celebrating children and young people being active by participating in athletics.
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This year’s theme, Relay Around the World, was inspired by the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, taking place this weekend.
The challenge, which ran from 6 April to Kids’ Athletics Day on 7 May, was the biggest, most inclusive Kids’ Athletics participation activity yet – with a target of 500,000 kids participating across the world – and was designed to inspire the athletes of tomorrow and get kids everywhere moving.
The final baton was handed to world and Olympic medallist Su Bingtian, the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 ambassador, at an event on 9 May with 100 Guangzhou schoolchildren.
Of the 120 participating Member Federations, Kenya emerged on top.
Six hundred coaches, teachers and volunteers from schools and clubs from multiple counties across the country organised Kids’ Athletics Day relay events, reaching more than 140,500 children.
With an additional focus on sustainability, kids across Kenya planted trees as a way of promoting a conducive sporting environment and mitigating effects of climate change.
Most activations also used or created equipment from sustainable and recyclable sources. For example, batons were made from cardboard, and hurdles were made from hay bales and grass stacks.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said: “We’re extremely proud we have smashed our target and over 600,000 kids participated in relays across all six continental areas in over 1200 activations.
Congratulations to Kenya and all the Member Federations that took part in the challenge but also to every athletics club, school and individual who participated. We couldn’t have done this without you.”
AK president Jackson Tuwei said: “We’re delighted to be named the winner of the Kids’ Athletics Day Member Federation Challenge. With the support of our nationally trained Kids’ Athletics instructors, AK mobilised thousands of children through schools and community partnerships, offering children opportunities to engage in structured athletics, promoting physical development, teamwork and a spirit of fun.
The Kids’ Athletics programme in Kenya has become a cornerstone of our grassroots development strategy, playing a vital role in talent identification and instilling a lifelong appreciation for sport and healthy living.”
