The World Kids Athletics Day is happening at 3pm this Friday, May 12 at the BCI Stadium, for kids aged 3 to 13 years. The afternoon will be a fun, interactive, inclusive place for our tamariki to come and give athletics a go.

The theme for Worlds Kids Athletics Day is “Move, Play, Explore”. The objective is to get as many of our three to 13 year olds moving and trying something new – or if they are already involved in athletics, it’s an opportunity to come along, participate and just have a whole lot of fun.

“We want all our kids developing a love for fitness and having an active lifestyle,” says Athletics Cook Islands president Simone Fe’ao. “We have a lot of raw talent in our Cook Islands community. World Kids Athletics Day is about engaging our kids by offering them a variety of different circuits and activities, so they enjoy learning about and doing athletics.”

Circuits are going to be set up so children in different age groups can move around trying all the different activities on offer. There’s even a free sausage sizzle and ice block for all kids who participate on the day.

Atiu, Mauke, Mangaia, Mitiaro and Aitutaki are taking part in World Kids Athletics Day as well, running similar programmes to celebrate the same theme of move, play and explore.

“We definitely want to engage our Northern Group community. Athletics Cook Islands is dedicated to connecting with as many of our Pa Enua community as possible. Activities like this are for all of us,” says Fe’ao.

The governing body of athletics is World Athletics. CEO Jon Ridgeon says that “we believe that Kids’ Athletics has the power to get the world moving and that every child is born to move, play and explore no matter where they are in the world or their individual circumstances”.

Eighty-one (81) per cent of adolescents don’t meet the world health level of activity. Kids Athletics Day is one of many ways Athletics Cook Islands is committed to making sure our children and our community know that there are a variety of different avenues available for incorporating exercise into daily life.

“We would love to see as many of our three to 13 year olds at the stadium on Friday. Come along, bring your ‘can do’ attitude and your water bottle and let’s have some fun!”

If you have any questions about athletics or are keen to get involved, you can come along on Friday or contact Simone Fe’ao by phone on 50343 or Ruth Mave on 51418.

• ACI