The Saint Lucia Athletics Association will this Saturday, May 11, 2013 join the other 121 member federations of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in the observance of World Athletics Day, which is held annually in the month of May.
The IAAF World Athletics Day, when it began in 1996, was exclusively planned for youngsters who were members of clubs affiliated to IAAF member federations.
In recent years, the scope of the project has broadened to include the participation of school children in team competitions.
With the addition of this category, the IAAF World Athletics Day has become a complete and an important event which annually promotes the sport around the world.
The goal of the IAAF World Athletics Day is to firmly establish an important link between the youth, our sport, and environmental conservation.
In an effort to sensitize the youth about the importance of World Athletics Day and to help them celebrate the event, which according to the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) is one of the busiest programmes of competitions in the athletics calendar, the Saint Lucia Athletics Association has scheduled the schools team competition for children between the ages of 13 and 15 years or children born between 1998 and 2000, for Wednesday, May 8.
However, due to the condition of the Mindoo Phillip Park after the recently held opening of Jazz, this event will have to be combined with the Clubs and Open Category Events on Saturday at the George Odlum Stadium from 10 am.
The programme of events for World Athletics Day 2013 is as follows:
9-10 years: 60m, cricket ball throw and long jump
11-12 years: 150m, cricket ball throw and long jump
13-15 years: 60m hurdles, shot put and high jump
Open Category: 200m, javelin, 1500m, high jump, long jump and 4x100m
The Saint Lucia Athletics Association invites all athletes to come out in large numbers at the George Odlum Stadium on Saturday from 10 am to make the event a success.
Transportation to the stadium leaves the Derek Walcott Square at 7:30 am.
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow me on Twitter: @terryfinisterre