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IAAF official arrives for Kids Athletics
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Posted on Dec 11 2005
As the start of the 2005 Micronesian Athletics Championships draws near, officials are hard at work in putting the final touches in preparing to host the event, which will feature over 100 athletes, coaches, and officials from around the region.
CNMI athletes, members of the Northern Marianas Athletics, and staff of the Division of Sports and Recreation were busy removing debris and cleaning the Oleai Sports Complex track when IAAF lecturer Dieter Massin of Germany arrived at the venue yesterday afternoon.
Massin will conduct a training session with instructors from various elementary schools in hopes of promoting the sport of athletics.
“My interest with this new event, I would like to show that athletics is anywhere possible and anywhere practical…for instance in the school yard as well as in a car park or shopping center sports hall,” he said during an interview. “Athletics is not depending on artificial surfaces and I think it is very important to show it.”
Massin, who has conducted his seminars all over the world, also explained that another key in promoting the sport is to be creative and flexible with training techniques.
“You have to be flexible and always creative, otherwise the children will sit in the corner and will not be interested,” he said. “You never need the original or traditional implements of athletics. My interest is to come here and to explain and show that athletics is more than the traditional track and field understanding. There’s a little bit more. I think if the children see them, I think there’s a new motivation for the children,” he said.
Massin stressed that attracting more individuals is very important, especially since the interest in the sport is decreasing.
“The interest in athletics world-wide is decreasing,” he said. “We have to ask why it is decreasing. Athletics for children is boring because they have to train, train, train…no fun and no challenge. I think Kids Athletics shows another way and a new way, and is very good for the schools.”
The Kids Athletics begins today, with Massin working with instructors. Tomorrow’s session will be with kids from various schools.
