Today (7 May) is Kids’ Athletics Day 2025, an initiative dedicated to encouraging children and young people to get active, move, and explore through the joy of athletics.
Rooted in the belief that every child is born to play, no matter their background or circumstances, this day aims to ignite a lifelong connection between young people and physical activity.
The theme for this year is ‘Relay Around the World’ and invites families, schools, clubs, and communities to come together in fun, relay-style events inspired by the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, which take place on 10-11 May.
The celebration isn’t just about movement—it’s about community, confidence, and creativity. Using resources from the Kids’ Athletics Day toolkit or their own ideas, groups worldwide are encouraged to take part in a global relay of energy and enthusiasm from 6 April to 7 May.
Athletics for All
The wider growth of athletics and engagement with young people around major events has also been a feature of European Athletics’ biggest events so far in 2025, under the umbrella of new “Athletics for All” programme.
The Apeldoorn 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships 4-7 March and the Brussels-Leuven 2025 European Running Championships 12-13 April have showcased how elite competitions can also serve as springboards for community engagement.
At Apeldoorn 2025, the ‘Moving People’ social programme, led by the Royal Dutch Athletics Federation, brought athletics directly to schools and neighbourhoods across the Netherlands. Highlights include the ‘Urban Tracks’, a travelling mini indoor track offering a unique athletic experience, and ‘The Daily Mile’, a school-based running initiative promoting health and well-being.
Engagement with local clubs and tailored school activity boxes helped amplify the message that athletics is for everyone.
Running in the family
Meanwhile, in Belgium, the European Running Championships left a powerful legacy through youth-centred outreach. A standout programme enabled students aged 14–18 to participate in the 10km race, while over 1,000 children under 14 joined a vibrant youth event in Brussels. Engagement events across cities like Ghent and Mechelen further fostered excitement and inclusion.
Together, these initiatives exemplify how Kids’ Athletics Day and Athletics for All are working hand-in-hand to build an active, inclusive future—one child, one race, and one relay at a time.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics