Olympic gold medalist Letsile Tebogo recently led a children’s athletics session in Tokyo, inspiring young athletes ahead of the World Athletics Championships.
The event was held at Minato City Takanawadai Elementary School on Tuesday, September 9, as part of a program to encourage kids to get active.
The session, organized by World Athletics and the local championships committee, brought together 150 children and the mascot Riku One. Tebogo, who has been an ambassador for the Kids’ Athletics program since April, participated in a relay race and guided the children through obstacle courses inspired by Japanese culture. The kids especially enjoyed the “bamboo forest” and “ninja agility” challenges, which were designed to improve their motor skills.
Tebogo, a sprinter from Botswana, spoke about the importance of such events, stating, “Seeing stars come to their school motivates children to achieve their dreams.” He also highlighted the challenges that young athletes face in Africa, where a lack of equipment often hinders their potential.
Tebogo is currently preparing for the World Athletics Championships, which will take place in Tokyo from September 13 to 21. He hopes to win three medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x400m relay.
In a related initiative, World Athletics has launched a city-wide relay project involving 1,400 elementary schools. The program also includes workshops, press conferences for children, and stadium visits to get young people excited about the sport. The Kids’ Athletics program, which is active in more than 160 countries, has already reached 13 million young people, helping to connect sports with the development of future generations.
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