Kids Athletics in Cairo, Egypt

Note:

If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)

By Rameshon

Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)

Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)

OAA signs agreement to launch IAAF Kids’ Athletics programme

A file photo of children attending the IAAF Kids’ Athletics in Cairo, Egypt

Muscat Daily staff writer

December 18, 2013

The Oman Athletics Association (OAA) signed a deal with the world athletics body, IAAF, on Tuesday to launch the ambitious IAAF Kids' Athletics programme in the sultanate.

The IAAF initiative is one of the biggest ongoing grassroots athletics development programmes in the world. Oman is one of 20 countries selected this year for the initiative.

Sheikh Saif al Hosni, the OAA chairman, told Muscat Daily, “It is great to be part of the IAAF Kids' Athletics programme. The world body has selected only 20 countries. I hope this initiative will give a big push to athletics in Oman.”

Sheikh Saif al Hosni

The agreement, which will see the IAAF support the OAA over the next four years was signed by Hosni and the visiting IAAF delegation, which comprised Abdel Malek El Hebil, project manager in Morocco, and Dr Hamdi Abderahim, director of the IAAF's Regional Development Centre in Cairo, Egypt.

The IAAF Kids’ Athletics programme was launched in 2005 and by the end of 2011, it had 1.5mn kids from all over the world in its ambit.

Hosni said, “The main objective of the programme is to make athletics the most widely participated sport in schools in Oman. We need to educate kids to take to sport in general and athletics in particular and, thus, promote a balanced and healthy lifestyle. We need to attract and sustain potential stars.”

Hosni added, “We will focus on schools, the target will be to tap boys and girls in the age group of 8-12 years. We hope to make athletics popular among thousands of kids in the near future. Also, the programme will give us a chance to develop physical education teachers in schools into instructors and coaches.”

The IAAF is trying to popularise athletics under the banner 'A-Team Event for Children'. Its overall programme comprises three event groups - sprinting/running, jumping and throwing - in the age groups of 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12 yrs.

Meanwhile, Hosni said he had useful discussions with the visiting IAAF officials on the Accredited Training Centre at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher and the high-altitude training centre at Jabel al Akhdar.

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By Narayanan

Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’  by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).

He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.