IAAF / Nestlé Kids’ Athletics workshop in Delhi suggests huge potential in India

Athletics coordinators from 20 states took part in the workshop conducted by IAAF senior development manager Gunter Lange.

AFI is keen to transform the nation of 1.25billion people into a global athletics power with the implementation of strong grass-roots developmental programmes. The first steps of this plan were the numerous Kids Athletics instructor courses that have been conducted around India over the past two years.

Now AFI wants to introduce the Kids’ Athletics programme to more than 1.5million primary schools in India.

Launched in 2005, IAAF Kids’ Athletics was created to help promote and encourage the development of running, jumping and throwing skills in an attractive, accessible and instructive way.

Since its inception, more than 1.5million children have participated in the programme in more than 100 territories around the globe.

“This is one of the most successful grassroots programmes in the world,” said AFI president Adille J Sumariwalla. “I thank the IAAF for extending full cooperating to the AFI in all our initiatives, and we look forward to further strengthening the relationship to take Indian athletics to great heights.”

“I congratulate the AFI for taking this initiative to develop athletics across schools in the country,” added Sarbananda Sonowal, the union minister for youth affairs and sports. “I’m sure millions of kids in the country will benefit if it is implemented properly.”

IAAF