When World Athletics launched the “Relay around the World” Kids’ Athletics Day Challenge, few could have predicted the country that would ultimately set the pace. The global campaign, running from April 6 to May 7, rallied more than 600,000 children worldwide. Its main objective is to ignite a passion for athletics and foster values of teamwork and discipline among the next generation.
Meanwhile, Kenya, renowned for its distance running pedigree, approached the Kids’ Athletics Challenge with a unique blend of grassroots outreach and creative programming. Athletics Kenya (AK) orchestrated over 20 activations across the country, reaching urban centres and remote villages.
More than 15,000 Kenyan children took part in high-energy activities such as Formula 1 sprints. Others participated in sack races, shuttle relays, tire tunnel runs, hula hoop challenges, and rope skipping.
Each event was designed not only to spark interest in track and field but also to nurture long-term talent and instil important values. For instance, educators praised the program’s inclusive approach. Noting that it allowed even the youngest learners to experience athletics in a fun and educational way.
The turning point came when World Athletics recognised Kenya as the winning Member Federation in the Kids’ Athletics Challenge. Citing the country’s nearly quarter-share contribution to global participation and its standout commitment to both sport and sustainability.
Every relay event in Kenya featured a symbolic tree-planting ceremony, merging athletics with environmental consciousness. Barnaba Korir, Athletics Kenya’s Youth Development Committee chair, highlighted the program’s dual impact.
“Kids’ Athletics has become a national platform for unearthing talent, building communities, and teaching values such as teamwork, discipline, and environmental responsibility”.
Kenya’s victory in the Kids’ Athletics Day Challenge earned the nation a $10,000 prize to further develop youth athletics. Moreover, the event helped Kenya in reinforcing its reputation as a global leader in grassroots sports development. Meanwhile, Kenya’s model of blending sport, education, and sustainability stands as a blueprint for future success. Now the World looks ahead to a record-breaking kids’ relay in Guangzhou, China.
