Historic! Venezuela is crowned champion of the world mini athletics challenge

Published at: 03/06/2026 11:59 AM

In an unprecedented achievement for national grassroots sports, Venezuela became champion of the World Mini Athletics Challenge (Kids' Athletics Day), after registering a massive and historic mobilization that exceeded the number of 3 million boys and girls joining the activities during 2026, throughout the national territory.

Venezuela ranked first in the mini-athletics activities carried out, with a participation of 3,143,028 boys and girls.

The national mini-athletics program commands the world ranking with 8477 activities and 3.1 million participants, followed by Uganda with 307 actions and 2,967,976 registered girls and boys, and Benin is third with a record of 611 activities 1,047,085 participants.

Luis Salas, general director of Sports Massification of the National Sports Institute (IND), indicated that the achievement was the result of an articulated strategy between the Ministry of Popular Power for Education, the Ministry of Popular Power for Sports and the Ministry of Communes and Social Movements, which allowed the mass incorporation of boys and girls between 5 and 14 years of age.

Salas explained that Venezuela has a structure of approximately 29,000 schools and high schools, which facilitated student participation. He also highlighted that athletics, gymnastics and chess are part of the country's physical education program, which strengthens sports from an early age.

In addition, the organization involved more than 5,336 community circuits and nearly 49,000 community councils.

Salas said that all the registered figures have “documentary support and verifiable databases”, and stressed that the success achieved was possible thanks to the coordination between government, educational, sports and community institutions throughout the country.

The World Mini Athletics Challenge is the main global showcase for countries to demonstrate their capacity to convene for track and field disciplines.

Being crowned in this event not only represents organizational pride for the country, but it also lays the structural foundations for attracting the next generation of highly competitive athletes who will defend the national tricolor in the future.

With this international triumph, Venezuela reaffirms the success of its school and community sports promotion policies, consolidating sport as a fundamental tool for social inclusion and integral development for youth.

Mazo News Team