Children around the world laced up their sneakers and grabbed batons to celebrate Kids’ Athletics Day with the Relay Around the World Challenge. A massive event aiming to get 500,000 kids moving and dreaming big. In cities from Tokyo to Kampala, young athletes joined hands-literally and figuratively-passing the baton in a show of unity, energy, and hope for the next generation of champions.
The excitement reached a fever pitch in Tokyo. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike reaffirmed their commitment to making this year’s World Athletics Championships a milestone for youth empowerment.
“In line with the mission of WCH Tokyo 25 and the values promoted by World Athletics’ Kids’ Athletics programme, which are respect, determination, friendship and pride, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, WCH Tokyo 25 and JAAF will work in close partnership to deliver a wide range of initiatives for children and young people. These will include invitations to attend live competitions, opportunities to participate in athletics activities, and experiences behind the scenes of the championships. Through these efforts, WCH Tokyo 25 aims to create a vibrant legacy that connects future generations to the power of sport,” said Governor Yuriko Koike.
Their partnership promises children opportunities to attend live competitions, participate in hands-on activities, and even go behind the scenes, all designed to inspire respect, determination, friendship, and pride.
But the heart of this story beats in Uganda. As the country marks 100 years of athletics, the Uganda Athletics Federation and the Primary School Sport Association joined forces in Kabale. In addition, more than 5,000 young athletes took part in the relay.
Meanwhile, every event included not just running, but tree planting and safeguarding activities. Weaving sustainability and education into the very fabric of the celebration. Moreover, Uganda’s efforts have placed it in a tight leaderboard race with Norway and Kenya, as federations and schools log their relays and track progress through a dedicated web app.
From creative skate relays in India to Olympic stars running with their children in Argentina, the Relay Around the World Challenge has become a joyful, inclusive movement.
In Kenya, thousands of kids ran relays that also helped green their communities, while in Croatia, world champion Blanka Vlasic led festivities in Split. The message is clear: sport connects, inspires, and shapes a better tomorrow, one child, one relay at a time.
