TOC's Active Kids' initiative returns to Istanbul for fourth consecutive year

The Turkish Olympic Committee’s (TOC) Nike-backed ‘Active Kids’ project for the 2017-18 academic year is underway at five schools in Istanbul.

The project, which is expected to reach over 2000 children this academic year, takes place on weekends at five primary schools across Istanbul where local children take part in a range of sporting activities under the supervision of qualified instructors. The programme is designed to combat the growing and global epidemic of physical inactivity by encouraging children to be more active.

The project was first launched by the TOC during the 2014-15 academic year and is co-developed by Nike Turkey. Nike add to the popularity of the project by providing children with special sportswear at each event. Initially, the project was launched at two schools in Istanbul but its popularity and success saw it quickly expanded to five schools the following year.

TOC Board Member Ayda Uluç said:

"The TOC is extremely proud to welcome back the ‘Active Kids’ initiative to Istanbul for the fourth year in a row. The project not only gives children access to sport within their own community, but also allows them to form lifestyle habits that will have a positive impact on their social and physical wellbeing.

Through ‘Active Kids’ and other youth oriented programmes, the TOC is making sport more accessible to children throughout Turkey. As a National Olympic Committee, it is our responsibility to promote the mental and physical health benefits of keeping active amongst our nation’s youth."

At the end of every year, the TOC survey children and their parents to monitor children’s progress, and determine the physical activity and anxiety levels of participating children. The findings are measured against similar projects across the globe and are analysed and published by a University in Istanbul.

The TOC’s ‘Active Kids’ initiative runs on weekends from 14 October 2017 until the end of the Turkish academic year at the following five schools in Istanbul: Çağrıbey Primary School, Ataşehir, Kıraç Primary School, Esenyurt, Ragıp Kutmangil Primary School, Kemerburgaz, Şehit Askeri Çoban Primary School, Ümraniye, Süleyman Çelebi Primary School, Seyrantepe.

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