Athletics Stars Inspire Future Generation at Special Demonstration of IAAF / Nestl Kids Athletics in Switzerland

Vevey –Seven world-class athletes joined dozens of young children today for an athletics competition held in the grounds of the Nestlé headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, situated on the banks of the picturesque Lake Geneva.

It was one of the latest initiatives as part of the partnership between IAAF Kids’ Athletics and the Nestlé Healthy Kids Global Programme, the aim of which is to promote a balanced and healthy lifestyle by increasing the participation levels in school sports.

And what better way to inspire a host of young children to lead an active life than to take part in an athletics competition alongside some of the world’s best athletes?

Two-time Olympic Javelin champion Andreas Thorkildsen, 2005 World 400m Hurdles champion Bershawn Jackson, Olympic Discus champion Sandra Perkovic, World and Olympic Triple Jump champion Christian Taylor, three-time World Shot Put champion Werner Günthör and 1997 World bronze medallist Anita Weyermann were each captains of a team of children.

The teams then competed in a series of events which covered all the core skills of athletics – running, jumping and throwing.

Ato Boldon, the 1997 World 200m champion and now a respected broadcaster, was present at the event as the presenter of IAAF Inside Athletics. “For the current generation of children, there are more distractions than ever and kids are spending more time indoors,” he said. “This is what makes events like this so important, because it encourages kids to go outside and do something active.”

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