NAIROBI, July 25, 2017 - It's all about the values of sport. On 16th July2017, in Nairobi, Kenya, during the IAAF World U18 Athletics Championships, theIAAF and the Faculty of Health and Sport Sciencesat University of Tsukuba joined forces once again to promote the values of sport through Kids'Athletics and the Nanairo Ekiden, which included education on disability,environmental issues as well as Olympic and Paralympic Values. The first ofsuch events, consolidating the University of Tsukuba and IAAFpartnership, was held in Rio in 2016.
The openingceremony was graced by the Deaf Girls School from Machakos County and theirwonderful dance performance.
Great Partnerships lead to greatevents
Close to 500participants, including around 400 kids from 9 primary schools from Nairobi(Mathare, Korogocho, Kibera, Kenyatta University Primary School, Ngong) andother areas of Kenya (Machakos School for the Deaf, Machakos TechnicalInstitute for the Blind and 2 schools from the Masai Mara - Endoyiosidai andInchorroi), took part in the event. Organisationssuch as the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, Douglas Wakihuri Street Kids, Lightof Hope Youth Initiative from Machakos as well as the United Nations Office inNairobi were also part of the event. The Kenyatta University provided thegrounds as well as the student volunteers, who did an admirable job. Volunteersfrom the Kenya Table Tennis Association and the Mathare Youth and SportAssociation (MYSA) also helped with the Nanairo Ekiden.
The IAAFAthletics for a Better World Programme was run by IAAF trainer, Innocent Asimwefrom Uganda together with local trainers. Participants tested some of theessential athletics skills - running, jumping and throwing including theiraptitudes on the "Formula 1" obstacle course.
The Kids'Athletics programme was followed by the Nanairo Ekiden, an inclusive relay racewhere mixed teams run together, inspired by Olympic and Paralympic values.Nanairo Ekiden is a new formula designed by the Faculty of Health and SportSciences at the University of Tsukuba, based on a traditional relay race wherethe runners pass a "tasuki" to each other. Each team runs for one ofthe Olympic and Paralympic values of Friendship, Respect, Excellence,Determination, Inspiration, Courage and Equality. Each team also has to takeinto consideration gender, disability, age etc. A truly inclusive event.
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During theNanairo Ekiden, participants were also introduced to disability awarenessthrough blind football and Takkyu Volley, a sitting table tennis game inventedin Japan, which can be played by anyone, including persons with severedisability. Olympic and Paralympic Value education OVEP was also part of theprogramme.
Inspiration and Excitement
SeveralIAAF top officials and iconic athletes such as Tegla Loroupe (marathon world champion)and David Rudisha (double Olympic 800 metre champion and world record holder)attended the event. They both signed the ribbons for the Nanairo Tree withtheir dreams and hopes for Tokyo 2020.
After theevent, all the participants were taken to the Kasarani Stadi.um where theywatched the finals of the IAAF U18 World Championships.
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