A
Children’s Sport Day closes
the 1st Africa International Sports
Convention
Dakar, 6
February 2007 - JAPPO S.A, an event management
company based in Dakar, Senegal, organized the first
Africa International Sports Convention (CISA) in
Dakar from 1st to 3rd February
2007. This event brought together continental and
international sports leaders to discuss sports
development in Africa.
Within
the framework of CISA an education through campaign
was organized since December 2006 based on the IAAF
Kid’s Athletics program. The program which consisted
of initiation to Athletics, drawing and writing
contests reached its reached its peak motion with
the CISA Children’s Sport Day on Sunday 4 February
2007 in Dakar. With the Leopold Sédar Senghor
Stadium as the backdrop, dozens of kids sprinted,
jumped, and vaulted their way through the friendly
competition designed in conjunction with the
International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF).
In
attendance were representatives from numerous
international sports organizations, including IAAF
President, Lamine Diack and IAAF President Director
of Cabinet, Cheikh Thiaré. Also in attendance were
representatives from the Senegalese National Olympic
Committee, the US Olympic Committee, ABSA, the World
Olympians Association and US Olympian Ron Freeman
who has won the night before the JAPPO Sports
Humanitarian Awards for his actions in Africa.
The day
composed of various athletics events, including
hurdles, sprints, jumping and throwing events. Teams
from schools in Dakar and neighboring towns were
invited, and qualitative and quantitative prizes
were handed out to the winning teams and to the
winners of the art and writing contests.
During
school visits that JAPPO staff and athletes from the
Dakar High Performance Center (CIAD) made to over 30
schools in the months leading up to the Africa
International Sports Convention, children entered
drawing and art contests and the best team of each
school was invited to join the sports day. Each
child was able to enter an essay and a drawing
depicting their interpretation of athletics. Prizes
including televisions, DVD players, video players
and school supplies were handed out to the winners
in each age group.
Composed
of visits to schools within Senegal, athletic
competitions, and the writing and art contests, the
campaign aims to inform the children of the positive
effects sports can play in their lives. Having the
slogan “Education Through Sport”, the program aims
to inform children about staying healthy, learning
teamwork, and the importance of staying in school.
A sports
program for children designed by the IAAF is used,
and is a great way to introduce the kids to the
basics of athletics. Sprints, hurdles, relays and
throwing competitions are all included. As this is a
team competition, the children will learn the
importance of working as a group, and the joys of
competing together.
The
enthusiastic support received for this program
proves its success. Kids and parents alike enjoyed
the funny yet educational program. President Lamine
Diack seemed very pleased by the project and
declared that these kinds of initiatives will surely
better position Athletics both at school and at the
community level.
click here for sports convention photos