​The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Community Development hosted the annual Kiddies’ Games at Ruimsig Stadium on Friday, 5 June 2022.

This year, the games shared the platform with the Arnold Sports Festival, and the children were exposed to different sporting codes such as weight lifting, karate, aerobics, team volleyball, table tennis and many more.

Amid laughter and singing, about 500 children aged five and six years from the City’s seven regions came out to participate in the games. Some of the sporting activities that the children took part in were ball throwing, ball dribbling, ball kicking, bean bag running, ball hopping, relay and ring throwing.

“The Kiddies’ Games form part of cognitive as well as physical development which is critical in contributing to the holistic development of the child. The games also form part of instilling a healthy physical active lifestyle,” said Karen du Plessis, the Deputy Director: Sport and Recreation in the City of Johannesburg.

They also form part of developing good sportsmanship and fair play, which are the basis of all competitive and professional sports. The games expose children to sports in a fun way with an emphasis on enjoyment.