Successful Kids Athletics Day Staging

On Saturday, May 14, the Turks and Caicos Islands joined many members of World Athletics, formerly the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) in staging Kids Athletics Day. The event actually started on May 7, but the TCI, along with many other countries across the Caribbean and the world decided to host their Kids Athletics Day on the 14. Events were held on Grand Turk, South Caicos and Providenciales. activities included track events – short and middle distance, throws and long jump. Some of the track events included obstacles races.

President of the Turks and Caicos Amateur Athletics Association (TCAAA) told NewslineTCI that Kids Athletics Day is a move to develop athletes across the world, while to garners greater interest and strengthening the sport globally. She pointed out that Kids Athletics Day, years ago, was being staged across the world, but went dormant. And so, World Athletics decided to revive it. The month of May has been designated at Kids Athletics Month, with May 7 named as Kids Day.

Skippings said Kids Athletics Day operates under a club system, where children would compete under the banner of an athletics club at the event.

She said due to logistical challenges, all the clubs could not congregate at the national stadium for the event, and so the decision was taken to have events staged on the respective islands. She noted however, that the children from North Caicos, which has one club, were able to land a sponsorship, enabling them to journey to Provo to compete against the various clubs on that island.

She said the TCAAA was now working on a club system for athletes.

“We have had a club system before, now we are reviving it, and we are encouraging the children to join the clubs at their schools and such forth,” Skippings urged, explaining that students do not necessarily have to join the club at their school.

“You can go to another school and be in a club with kids from various schools,” she said.

She pointed out that the Kids Athletics Day was not a competition, but merely to develop the children through the club system.

“North Caicos has one club, which makes up the Junior and Senior categories. But they were fortunate enough to get donors, and were able to bring them over here to Providenciales, to be a part of this event here,” Skippings said.

She added: “There are six registered clubs in Providenciales, and are made up of kids from age 5 up to age 19 or 20 years old. She said also that Grand Turk has four clubs and one in South Caicos.

Skippings further noted that so there were no club winners to declared, and so, at the end, the participants were presented with certificates of participation.

All Age Championship

She pointed out also that Kids Athletics Day would give the TCAAA an idea of the children who would be invited to try-out for selection to the biennial All Age Championship that would be staged in June.

“Those championships are multi-events, where kids have to take part between five to seven events. So, it had to be a strong child…they don’t have to be the fastest child, but they have to have endurance,” Skippings said.

She added: “For the All-Age Championship, only eight athletes are allowed to from each country, and they would be competing in just two categories – 11-12 and 13 to 14.

“Each country is allowed two males in the lower category and two females in that same category. And also, two males in the 13 to 14 and two females also. We are looking to fill all of our spots. We are looking to send hopefully all eight athletes to the championship.”

She said two males and two females would be invited from each island to take part in the trial at the National Stadium.

“We have applied to the Sports Commission and asked for four tickets from each island, two males and two females, and they would come to Providenciales to take part in those trials. But if the islands have more kids that want to come they can pay and come with their parents. It is not limited to the number of kids from each island that can participate in the trials,” the TCAAA Head explained.