World Athletics Day is annually observed across the globe on May 7 to promote sports and exercise for physical and mental well-being. The day aims to raise awareness about the benefits of physical activity and encourage young and school children to take up athletics.
World Athletics Day 2023 was observed on 7th May 2023 under the theme “Athletics for All – A New Beginning”.
- The theme focuses on promoting diversity and inclusivity in athletics and making sports accessible to people of all genders, ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
The day is annually observed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), formerly the International Amateur Athletic Federation (1912–2001).
- The IAAF was renamed World Athletics in 2019.
Background:
i. The IAAF, the world governing body for the sport of track and field athletics, introduced World Athletics Day as a social responsibility titled “Athletic for a Better World.”
ii. The 1st ever World Athletics Day was observed on 15th May 1996, with the participation of over 50 countries, and the event was launched by the late Primo Nebiolo, the then-president of the IAAF.
World Athletics Championships 2023:
i. The World Athletics Championships, formerly known as the World Championships in Athletics (until 2019), are a biennial athletic competition organized by World Athletics.
- 2023 marks the 19th edition of the World Athletics Championships.
ii. World Athletics Championships are scheduled to be held from 19th to 27th August 2023 in the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary.
Kids’ Athletics Day 2023:
i. World Athletics will be celebrating Kids’ Athletics Day on 7th May 2023 with organisations around the world to mark the launch of the new Kids’ Athletics Programme.
- The theme of Kids’ Athletics Day 2023 is “Move, Play, Explore”.
ii. This programme aims to encourage kids to get out there and have fun being active.
About the World Athletics:
World Athletics (or IAAF) was established on 17 July 1912, in Stockholm, Sweden, following the Olympic Games closing ceremony.
President- Sebastian Coe
Headquarters- Monaco
