World Athletics Day is annually observed across the globe on 7th May to encourage sports activities throughout the world and to promote the importance of fitness and health.
Background:
i.The observance of the World Athletics Day was introduced as a social responsibility project titled “Athletic for a Better World” by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), formerly the International Amateur Athletic Federation, the world governing body for the sport of track and field athletics.
ii.The first World Athletics Day in 1996 was themed around the Centennial edition of the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
iii.The first World Athletics Day (1996) was launched by then IAAF president Primo Nebiolo with an aim to create awareness about athletics among the youngsters.
Note: In 2019 the IAAF was renamed as World Athletics.
World Athletics Championships 2022:
i.The World Athletics Championships are a biennial athletics competition organized by World Athletics.
ii.The 18th edition of the World Athletics Championships, 2022 World Athletics Championships (WCH Oregon22 ), is scheduled to be held in Eugene, Oregon, United States of America(USA) from 15th to 24th July 2022.
iii.This will be the first World Athletics Championships to be held in the USA.
- This was originally scheduled to be held as World Athletics Championship 2021 in August 2021.
iv.The 19th edition of the World Athletics Championships, 2023 World Athletics Championships are scheduled to be held from 18 August to 27 August 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.
Kids’ Athletics Day on 7 May 2022:
World Athletics will be celebrating Kids’ Athletics Day on 7 May 2022 with organisations around the world to mark the launch of new Kids’ Athletics programme.
i.This programe aims to provide resources that will help local organisations to teach children how to move, inspire them to move more and to move together.
ii.The redeveloped programme incorporates a wider age range (between 4 and 14) and is structured over 3 levels, teaching both fundamental and athletics specific skills through a range of activities designed to maximise fun and participation.
About World Athletics:
World Athletics was formerly known as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
IAAF was founded in Stockholm, Sweden on 17th July 1912.
President– Sebastian Coe
Headquarters– Quai Antoine, Monaco
