While all the attention in athletics has been on next month's Olympic Games, Athletics Gauteng North is still focused on its development programmes.

While all the attention in athletics has been on next month's Olympic Games, Athletics Gauteng North is still focused on its development programmes.

AGN kicks off its season in September, with youngsters under six years old getting their opportunity to compete.

It is important that children are continually reminded of where they could end up, said develop- ment officer Itumeleng Moloto, particularly as the most significant event in any athlete's life will be taking place in Beijing.

"We just want to give them a feel of competition at a higher level. They will later take part in our yearly interprovincial tournament, where we would have invited kids from other provinces to compete against them," Moloto said.

A challenge faced by athletics has been the continuous loss of talent to other sporting codes. - Linda Moreotsene