The British Virgin Islands Athletics Association’s Kiddies Christmas Camp has got underway and, although there is still space for more children, it has so far been a great success. Photo: Provided

The Camp based on the Greenlands Field has seen youngsters given the chance to experience Track and Field events for the first time in a safe and fun modified format and forms part of a World Wide Programme designed to increase involvement and awareness of the many different disciplines. Photo: Provided

BVIAA Vice-President, Steve Augustine and BVIAA General Secretary, Delva Thomas, are impressed with the early participation and new talent on show. Photo: Provided

This is according to co-organisers, BVIAA Vice-President, Steve Augustine and BVIAA General Secretary, Delva Thomas, who have been impressed with the early participation and new talent on show.

Despite the unpredictable weather crossing the Territory, the camp based on the Greenlands Field has seen youngsters given the chance to experience Track and Field events for the first time in a safe and fun modified format and forms part of a World Wide Programme designed to increase involvement and awareness of the many different disciplines available to encourage and excite youngsters.

“We are looking at introducing the children to the different aspects of athletics,” Augustine said. “We have age appropriate hurdles, javelins shot puts—just about anything you can name in athletics, we have the materials for the kids to use. What we will be doing is introducing the kids to the different events, with the hope of making them more comfortable in participating in some of the more uncommon events.”

Augustine said one of the objectives of the camp is to also look at identifying and developing talent as there’s a great talent pool in the VI. He said they figured that if they get out to where children are, Capoons Bay in the first instance and now Greenland and another location during summer 2014, new talent will be found

The camp, which costs $35 and runs from 5-6:30 P.M., targets children 4-14 years, noted association Vice President Steve Augustine- an IAAF Certified course instructor who is spearheading the programme. Children can be dropped off at 4:45 P.M. and collected by 6:45 P.M.