Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) became the latest national IAAF Member Federation to activate IAAF / Nestlé Kids’ Athletics, the flagship of the IAAF School / Youth Programme, which is now running in more than 120 countries, last Friday.
Ghana joined Nigeria as the only countries in the Central and West African Region implementing the programme so far.
Created in 2005 and with the support of its partner “[link id=”180″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Nestlé Healthy Kids” target=”_blank”]” since January 2012, IAAF / Nestlé Kids Athletics – which aims to introduce children to Athletics in fun activities at a basic level – is one of the biggest grassroots development programmes in the world of sports.
Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Sports Joseph Yasmin and the Deputy Education Minister in charge of basic education Alex Kyeremeh, along with other dignitaries and more than 400 enthusiastic kids from the University of Ghana Basic Schools, attended a colourful and vibrant launch event in the main sports stadium of the country’s capital Accra.
More than 200,000 primary school pupils in Accra, Bolgatanga, Cape Coast, Ho, Koforidua, Kumasi, Sunyani, Tamale, Takoradi, and Wa will benefit within the first year of the four-year initiative. In addition, there will be a training programme for 24 Kids’ Athletics lecturers/instructors and 576 athletics coaches to be conducted between 2013 and 2014 by IAAF certified experts.
President of the GAA, Prof Francis Dodoo, commented: “The Ghana Athletics Association’s goal/mandate is to develop a pipeline of next-generation athletes. Naturally, the process of development must begin in the chronological grassroots; that is, the young boys and girls who will be the beneficiaries of the IAAF / Nestlé Kids’ Athletics programme. GAA is thankful for the partnership with Nestlé, IAAF, Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Government for making this programme possible.”
Click here to read more about IAAF / Nestlé Kids’ Athletics.
(Original article on IAAF.ORG)
