According to the federation’s Honorary International Secretary and
former President Jónas Egilsson, the programme has two main aims:
“First we want to increase the athletic literacy rate among children
and second we want to provide opportunities for clubs to identify
talent and recruit young athletes.”
Launched in 2007, the event called on students aged 12 and 13 to run
120m, high jump and put a 2kg shot. More than 1,200 children took part
in the gymnasiums of 40 elementary schools, where the competition was
managed by physical education teachers.
A national final was hosted by the city of Reykjavik, with local clubs
providing officials. Other support, including prizes, was provided by
the country’s low-cost airline, Iceland Express.
It is known that this year 47 schools staged the event, though the
exact number of competitors was not available as this article went to
press.
In addition to building links with schools in a country where many
young children are not familiar with athletics (football and handball
are clearly on top) the programme attracted media coverage for the
federation and athletics in general, particularly in sports magazines
that reach young people with inspirational photographs and articles
Egilsson explains that the competition is actually a reincarnation of a
programme that attracted more than 5,700 kids across the country in the
mid-1970s (from a total population of less than 250,000).
“We took the old concept and are working on some fine tuning. For
example, this year we made the run 400m but we will probably go back to
a shorter distance in the future. We believe that when we get it right
we will be able to reach schools in every part of the country.”
“The main challenge is to get more teachers involved. It is not
feasible for the clubs or the federation to go to all the schools, so
we have to be able to demonstrate the benefits to both the kids and the
schools.”
“What we do know is that once they try the event, both the kids and the teachers love it.”
Fact File | |
Programme: | FRI Triathlon |
Organiser: | Frálsiprottasamband Islands (Icelandic Athletics Federation) |
Start Date: | 2007 |
Target Group: | Children 12 to 13 years old |
Participants in 2007: | 1,200 |
Venues 2007: | 40 elementary schools plus a national final |
Support: | City of Reykjavik, Iceland Express Airline |
More Information: | Jónas Egilsson jonas@fri.is |