The National Sports Centre turned pink on Tuesday as 1,500 children took to the track under the watchful eye of an Olympic athlete.
Clad in eye-catching T-shirts, young people from 16 of the island’s primary schools took part in the ‘Go Run for Fun’ event, part of an initiative that aims to get more than 100,000 British children running by 2016.
Before taking to the track to complete a two kilometre course around the NSC, participants were given advice from a special guest star.
Former Olympic athlete Jenny Meadows was on hand to help the participants, all aged between six and 11, get the best out of their run.
Gianni Epifani, of the Sports Development Unit, said: ‘It was great to see so many young people taking part. It was amazing sight, seeing 1,500 young people starting on the NSC track – there was a sea of pink shirts.
He added: ‘It was purely about coming down, getting involved and having a great experience that might inspire them. Hopefully the great experience they had will inspire them to carry on either in athletics, running or sport in general.
He praised the efforts of the day’s special guest. ‘As an ambassador for the event, Jenny was fantastic,’ said Gianni. ‘She really got involved by speaking to the children and was full of advice to prepare them for the run.
‘Afterwards she stayed right until the last child had gone, signing autographs and congratulating the participants.
‘She also spoke very positively about her life in athletics and hopefully she has inspired them to take part in sport.’
Go Run for Fun is the brainchild of Jim Radcliffe, the owner of UK manufacturing company INEOS.
He has donated £1.5 million to establish a charitable foundation to encourage children to get running.