Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 will see global sprinters in action this weekend
Botswana’s 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo encouraged local children to be active on the eve of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26. Tebogo is Kids’ Athletics ambassador. The global relay carnival is being held on the South African soil for the first time.
According to the World Athletics website, Friday’s session with Letsile Tebogo brought together local children for an introduction to athletics through games, movement-based activities and relay-inspired challenges.
The world’s best sprinters will be seen in action in two-day weekend competition starting Saturday at Gaborone’s National Stadium.
“It’s all about the kids, it’s not about me,” Tebogo was quoted by World Athletics website as saying. “What I do is for the kids. Many of them don’t have enough resources to help them pursue their dreams, so I try to meet them halfway and help ensure everything falls into place.”
The event was organised by Botswana Athletics Association in coordination with World Athletics Relays.
World Athletics’ flagship programme for children is designed to develop fundamental movement and athletics skills in a fun, safe and inclusive way.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said Kids’ Athletics plays an important role in introducing children not just to athletics, but to the physical skills that can help them in sport more widely. “Kids’ Athletics builds on a really important platform,” said Coe.
According to the World Athletics website, Kids’ Athletics Day was launched in 2022 and is celebrated annually on May 7. The World Athletics grassroots project has grown manifold reaching 1.3 million children across schools, clubs and communities.
EOM
