19th October 2015

Leap Project Having Positive Impact In Uganda

20 October 2015

One year on from the introduction of the Leadership and Excellence in Athletics Programme (LEAP) in Uganda, the country is benefitting from more than 1000 newly trained young athletics leaders.

LEAP is the athletics development project of the IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 launched by UK Athletics and UK Sport with the endorsement of the IAAF’s Athletics for a Better World programme. The programme aims to introduce young people from ten different IAAF Member Federation countries to athletics and develop their basic skills.

The overall goal of the programme in Uganda is to establish a sustainable system for development and promotion of athletics from grassroots to elite levels. LEAP was also supported in Uganda with various activities across the country by the Kiprotich Legacy Project (KLP), a project organised by Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich.

14 athletics tutors were trained by LEAP from all regions of Uganda from May 2014, who in turn have trained a total of 1090 young athletics leaders between the age of 13 and 20. These young leaders are then deployed to schools across Uganda to provide athletics sessions for young people.

It is hoped that LEAP will continue to have a positive impact in the country, with plans in place to train further tutors and young athletics leaders during the next two years, as well as upskilling and developing the existing tutors and young leaders.

UK Athletics Development Manager Stuart Attwell is delighted with the progress LEAP has made in Uganda over the past year.

He said: “Uganda is a great example of how LEAP can have a wide ranging and immediate impact. In just 12 months we have been able to train more than 1000 young leaders which has enabled thousands more school children to be exposed to organised athletics.

“Our target is to continue to work in partnership with Uganda Athletics Federation to grow the network of young athletics leaders within Uganda. By supporting the young athletics leaders in delivering run, jump and throw activities in schools, thousands of children will be able to experience high quality athletics in a fun and inclusive environment.”