The Athlete Zone at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24
For more than 1700 athletes, the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24 was a memorable experience, both on and off the track. For the first time, the event featured an Athlete Zone – a space designed to provide tools for the development of young athletes' careers.
“It has been an incredible experience to be in the Athlete Zone,” said Jazmin Romeu from Spain, who competed in the 100m.
Topics such as personal brand development, competition regulations and safeguarding were discussed in a playful and innovative way that engaged the young athletes. Inside the Athlete Zone, there were games, prizes and a daily leaderboard that athletes were eager to check, with rewards including pins, bags and other goodies.
"The objective of the Athlete Zone is to engage and empower our young athletes,” said World Athletics eLearning Content Developer Stephanie Eagle. “It's an educational space, but also a space for the athletes to come and chill and learn more about their athletics careers and really understand how they can be successful in the future.”
The Athlete Zone at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24
The phrase ‘Athletes Rising’ stood out in the Athlete Zone, along with the presence of marathon runner Andrea Paola Bonilla of Ecuador and pole vaulter German Chiaraviglio of Argentina, both members of the World Athletics Athletes' Commission.
“Receiving this information from such a prominent organisation as World Athletics would have been very useful to me,” explained Chiaraviglio. “You learn as you grow. Sometimes you normalise things that are not normal due to a lack of knowledge. Not all athletes have the same opportunities, and we are willing to change that.”
Bapi Hansda, a 400m sprinter from India, said: “It is important for me to continue growing as an athlete. This is the first time I’ve learned about these issues.”
He had just answered a question about safeguarding after spinning a roulette wheel. These types of games were used as a strategy to openly address certain topics, such as safeguarding and how to report misconduct in athletics.
Across the Athlete Zone was another area for athletes to engage with.
“This area is a part of the Athletics Integrity Unit where we educate the young athletes on integrity within our sport and that's run by the AIU,” added Eagle.
Next to it, a QR code presented by representatives from the World Athletics Health & Science team attracted the attention of other athletes. It read: ‘Join the Pelvic Floor Health in Athletics Project.’
“Understanding these topics and how they affect athletes is crucial for World Athletics,” said Bonilla. “At the stand, research on the pelvic floor is being conducted. The study aims to determine how the pelvic floor affects different athletes.”
Athletes receive information in the Athlete Zone in Lima
Equally important for athlete development is a 36-page printed booklet that was handed out at the Athlete Zone. It contained valuable information on social media behaviour, building personal brands, kit guidelines, rules and regulations, and health and science insights, as well as the work of the Athletes’ Commission and the Athletics Integrity Unit to protect the sport.
“There should be more visibility for these kinds of initiatives, especially in our category where we are just starting out. It’s a great idea,” said Ivana Peralta of Spain’s 4x100m team.
Colombian discus thrower Juan Montano added: “It is very good that this space is here for us, because there are athletes like me who do not know about the issues.”
Elena Garcia, Head of Education at the Athletics Integrity Unit, said: “It is important that athletes are informed at this age. We want athletics to become a much safer and more equitable sport.”
Athletes learn from Michelle Sammet in the Athlete Zone in Lima
“Educating athletes on matters relating to their sport and their careers – and in particular engaging the U20 age group – has been one of the priorities the Athletes’ Commission defined in its four-year plan which was signed off by Council earlier this year,” concluded Michelle Sammet, Head of Stakeholder Relations at World Athletics. “To be able to bring their ideas and vision to life with this pilot project, and to have two members of the commission from South America on site to help facilitate the project, has been very rewarding to see.”
More than 1500 people visited the Athlete Zone during the five days of competition, making it one of the success stories of the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24.
Alondra Naupari Reyes (Peru) of the Media Development Programme for World Athletics
