Some 300 children from 19 elementary schools from Ostrava as well as 200 students from 10 secondary schools across the Moravian-Silesian Region took part in a special “Ostrava supports continents” roadshow held on Thursday 22 March.
The “Ostrava supports continents” project is connected to the IAAF Continental Cup which will take place at the end of the season on 8-9 September. There will be representation from Team Europe in Ostrava where they will look to defend the crown they secured in Marrakech in 2014.
The main goal of “Ostrava supports continents” is to get children involved in regular physical activity and engaged with the event itself. In total, 30 primary schools and 27 secondary schools are taking part in the project which runs all the way through until the Continental Cup.
In Thursday’s roadshow, the young participants took part across three events: 60m run, medicine ball throw and a standing long jump. They were also supported and encouraged by world javelin champion and world record-holder Barbora Spotakova, the ambassador of the Asia-Pacific Team.
'I am surprised to see that the event was well organised. All the participants were so enthusiastic! Everyone is looking forward to September when IAAF Continental Cup will be held,' said Spotakova, who also took photos with the young athletes and handed out autograph cards.
The participants were also greeted by four-time European 110m hurdles champion Colin Jackson who recorded a message for the participants. Jackson is also a former world record-holder in the 110m hurdles and is the Team Europe ambassador.
'I am looking forward to Ostrava a lot; I have raced there several times and I know that the Ostrava audience loves athletics. I am glad to be the captain of the European team. The Continental Cup will be a great event and I enjoy being part of it,” he said.