Bahrain has announced plans to hold a Baby Olympics for “athletes” as young as two.
The quirky event, known as the Bahrain Baby Games, will take place in April.
According to a Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) press release sent to insidethegames, competitors will be aged between two and four and will compete in five different sports.
These will be athletics, gymnastics, football, basketball and weightlifting.
The Games give new meaning to the idea of developing sporting talent at a young age with claims the youngsters will also be taught about Olympic principles and values.
According to the BOC, the goal is to “create an awareness among youngsters to practice sport.”
Athletics events will include a medley relay, “a hurdles toddle” and a 15 meter freestyle race.
Gymnastics will involve a freestyle moves contest with football free-kick and free throw basketball contests taking place alongside a weightlifting show.
Kindergartens from all over the Gulf nation are now expected to engage with the event at the Isa Sports Complex in Riffa.
A preparatory meeting has already been held which saw BOC general secretary Abdulrahman Askar, also the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports deputy general secretary, share his thoughts and suggestions on the event.
He was joined by BOC projects manager Lounes Madene, other officials from the BOC and representatives from kindergartens.
A comprehensive plan to prepare for the first edition of the Games will now be drawn up.
In April last year, the Olympic Channel released a spoof video about a “Baby Olympics.”
It has now been watched nearly six million times on YouTube.
By Dan Palmer
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz.