As a food retailer, SPAR is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles. This is seen around the world through the various sports sponsorship activities of our SPAR Partners, as well as through the availability in our stores of an increasing range of products aimed at healthy eating.

The SPARK Kids Athletics Park (SPARK) was launched at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona in 2010 and has since developed into a great platform for demonstrating the key disciplines of athletics: running, jumping and throwing.

This year, at the 2016 European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam, SPARK has been further expanded to look not only at the disciplines themselves, but at partnering with the successful Female Coaching Network (FCN), which has developed training guidelines for young athletes and their parents. During the course of the Championships, FCN is holding workshops at the SPARK tent, encouraging all young spectators to participate.

Visitors to SPARK receive a start number and earn a star for each discipline they complete. The professional track, start blocks and other equipment being used at SPARK allow our young, budding athletes to experience each discipline fully under the supervision of professional coaches.

The SPARK workshops are a reflection of SPAR’s aim to bring athletics to children of all ages. If you and your family are at the Championships this weekend, make sure to visit the SPARK tent and discover all there is to know about what it takes to be an elite athlete.