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Every year on May 7th, athletes and sports enthusiasts around the globe come together to celebrate World Athletics Day. This special occasion serves as a reminder of the power of sports to unite people, promote health and fitness, and inspire individuals to reach their full potential. As we mark World Athletics Day 2024, let’s take a moment to reflect on the significance of this event and the positive impact of athletics on our lives.
World Athletics Day 2024 Date
Every year on May 7, World Athletics Day is observed. The day was introduced by International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) to promote participation in athletics among youngsters. World Athletics Day is part of the IAAF’s social responsibility project ‘Athletics for a Better World’. In today’s world with increased obesity rates among youngsters it has become an important matter to bring awareness to people about fitness. Thus, the World Athletics Day is celebrated to make people aware of the various issues concerning health and promote physical fitness. Every year on the 7th of May, World Athletics Day is commemorated. Even while it is critical to remember the date of such a worldwide event, it is also critical to obtain knowledge on its significance. Every year on the 7 May, World Athletics Day is commemorated. Athletics is a track and field sport that incorporates activities such as running, jumping, walking, and throwing. Athletes also include around two dozen different events in various divisions. Indoor locations are available in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Europe to organize such events.
History of World Athletics Day
The World Athletics Day was first celebrated in 1996. This event was introduced by then-president of International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) Primo Nebiolo. World Athletics Day is organized and sponsored by IAAF. IAAF is the international governing body for the sport of field athletics and track founded on 17 July 1912 in Stockholm (Sweden). This day was initiated with the aim of increasing public awareness on the need to educate youngsters to practice athletics.
In 1996, the first World Athletics Day was themed around the Centennial edition of the Olympic Games in Atlanta. From the winners of the event, two boys and girls were drawn from each of continental areas (Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, North Central America and the Caribbean) and they were invited by international Federation to attend the Atlanta Olympics. These practices were continued in successive years. Lucky winners of World Athletics Day were invited to attend IAAF world championships in Athens (1997), Seville(1999) and the World cup in Athletics(Johannesburg 1998). In the year 2006 participants for the event were between the age of 7 to 15 years but later on, the age gap was changed to 13 to 17 years.
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Athletics in India 2024
Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is the apex body for running and managing athletics in India and affiliated to the IAAF, AAA and Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The AFI was formed in 1946 and the federation organizes the National Championships, trains Indian Athletics National campers, selects Indian Athletics team for various international competitions like the Olympics, Asian Games, CWG, IAAF World Championships and other international meets. The AFI has 32 affiliated state units and institutional units. Athletics Federation of India conducts International and National Championships and various other meets to promote sports among masses.
Significance of World Athletics Day 2024
World Athletics Day initially aimed only on participation of children who were members of clubs affiliated to IAAF federations. Later on, the scope of the project has broadened to include the participation of school children in team competitions. As schools are the ideal places to promote the virtues of physical activity in general and of athletics in particular. In order to enhance sports activities throughout the world, there are various sports events conducted in the world throughout the year. Meanwhile, the main purpose of World Athletic Day is
- Popularize sports among the youth.
- Promote Athletics as the primary sport in schools and institutions.
- Increase public awareness about sports and to educate youngsters about the importance of sports.
- To gradually establish athletics as the number one participation sport in schools all over the world.
- Establish a link between the youth, sport, and environmental conservation.
World Athletics Day by IAAF has been a successful initiative. With increased popularity among youngsters, World Athletics Day gained global attention. More than a hundred countries take part in this event now. Playing sports helps a person be healthy and strong. Athletes have lower BMI as compared to non –athletic people. It is important to encourage youngsters to take part in these events for healthy and fit future. Everyone regardless of age must take part in such events, be health-conscious and do some regular walking, running or other activities for better health. As staying active will help in lowering the rate of high B.P and diabetes.
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Objectives of World Athletics Day 2024
- Increasing the popularity of sports among young people
- Athletics should be promoted and made the primary sport in schools and institutions.
- Increasing public awareness of sports and instilling in young people a sense of the importance of sports
- To create a strong link between youth, sports, and environmental protection.
World Athletics Day 2024 Theme
The 2024 theme for World Athletics Day will announce shortly. “Athletic for a better world” was the overarching theme of World Athletics Day 2024. This was started by the IAAF as a social responsibility project. World Athletics Day is observed all around the world. In India, World Athletics Day 2022 would be an unique day because an Indian athlete won gold at the Tokyo Olympics this year. It is critical to commemorate such occasions in order to promote the spirit of sports. The IAAF sponsors a variety of sporting events at schools and colleges every year. World athletics day 2021 theme had been not set due to Covid-19 rapid raising.
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World Athletics Day Quotes 2024
- “If something stands between you and your success, move it. Never be denied.” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
- “Don’t be afraid of failure. This is the way to succeed.” – LeBron James
- “You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there are no limits.” – Michael Phelps
- “If you persevere long enough if you do the right things long enough, the right things will happen.” – Manon Rheaume
- “It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to accomplish. It’s all a matter of discipline.” – Wilma Rudolph
- “The only person who can stop you from reaching your goals is you.” – Jackie Joyner-Kersee
- “You must not only have competitiveness but ability, regardless of the circumstance you face, to never quit.” – Abby Wambach
- “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” —Michael Jordan
- “It’s going to be a journey. It’s not a sprint to get in shape.” – Kerri Walsh Jennings
- “Just believe in yourself. Even if you don’t pretend that you do and, and some point, you will.” – Venus Williams
- “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King
- “It is more difficult to stay on top than to get there.” – Mia Hamm
World Athletics Day Quiz 2024
1. LeBron James has earned just about every accomplishment imaginable in his sport. What does he play?
a) Football
b) Basketball
c) Tennis
d) Golf
Ans: b)
2. Even as he ages, Tom Brady continues to mesmerize fans of which sport?
a) Soccer
b) Hockey
c)Boxing
d) Football
Ans: Football
3. Which boxer proclaimed, “I am the greatest”?
a) Muhammad Ali
b) Floyd Patterson
c) Leon Spinks
Ans: a)
4. Who was the first sports millionaire?
a) Willie Mays
b) Bjorn Borg
c) Crescens
Ans: c)
5. Most indoor athletics tracks have a length of
6. The champion runner Paavo Nurmi was born in
7. Credited with breaking the “color barrier” in baseball by becoming the first African American to play in the major leagues, Jackie Robinson played for which team?
a) Baltimore Orioles
b) Brooklyn Dodgers
c) New York Yankees
Ans: b)
8. How many Olympic gold medals did Carl Lewis win?
9. In what sport did Dan Gable win all but six competitions?
