China's youth athletics boom is driving record participation in children's sports nationwide, combining fun competition, school programs and sports-tourism initiatives to promote lifelong fitness among young people.

TAIYUAN, June 1 (Xinhua) -- As International Children's Day arrives and the 2026 China Kids' Athletics Month campaign closes, youth athletics activities continue to gain momentum across China, reflecting growing enthusiasm for grassroots sports participation among children.

At the 2026 China Kids' Athletics Month Carnival held earlier in Linfen, north China's Shanxi Province, more than 1,000 young athletes from 27 teams nationwide competed in an all-around athletics challenge and a 1.6-kilometer race, spending the May Day holiday on the track.

Meanwhile, the recently concluded 2026 Zhejiang Youth Sunshine Sports Fun Athletics Competition targeted primary school students born after 2013.

The event featured team competitions including sprint-hurdle relays, speed ladders, endurance runs, cross jumps and kneeling medicine-ball throws, highlighting the fun and inclusive nature of youth athletics.

The events form part of a nationwide series organized under the banner of World Kids' Athletics Day and China Kids' Athletics Month.

May 7 marks World Kids' Athletics Day, an initiative launched by World Athletics.

To support the initiative and encourage greater participation in athletics among children and teenagers, the Chinese Athletics Association called on schools, sports organizations and local authorities to organize related events throughout May.

Since May 1, competitions and promotional activities have been held across the country.

Catherine Margaret O'Sullivan, Kids' Athletics senior manager at World Athletics, said that through kids' athletics programs, they hope to create opportunities for children to experience athletics in a fun and positive way, meet their developmental needs, develop sports skills and build confidence for lifelong participation in physical activity.

"China is an important promoter and practitioner of kids' athletics.

I can feel the strong sporting atmosphere here, and people truly recognize the value of helping children stay active and healthy," she added.

The popularity of youth athletics has grown rapidly in recent years.

In 2025, the "Great Wall Little Warriors" kids' athletics series staged more than 140 events nationwide and attracted over 300,000 participants.

Other competitions, including the WSE Athletics Open for age groups such as U4, U8 and U12 and the "Run, Youth" U-series athletics events, have also experienced robust growth.

Zhang Xinda, executive chairman of the Linfen Athletics Association, said youth athletics centers....