On 15 May, the UN Day of the Family, the Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre organised for a second year Famillathlon – an outdoor event for children and parents under the auspices of H.E. the Ambassador of France in Bulgaria and the EC Office in Sofia.
The event supported by Sofia Municipality, Oak Foundation, Vivacom and Save the Children Norway, was opened in the city centre by Sofia city Mayor Mrs. Yordanka Fandakova. An address from the EC Office head was announced and the start was given to a Bicycle Tour for parents and children to the South Park. Participants ranged from 4 to 54 years of age.
From the central stage in the South Park the youngest and the oldest participants in the tour received their prizes and the Family Safer Internet Day was announced by the Deputy Chairman of the State Agency for Child Protection Mr. Kalin Kamenov.
There was a lot of music, presentations of dances, singing, martial arts from groups of children from various schools. The children and their parents participated in competitions organized by more than a dozen of sports federations and children organisations.
Most interest attracted the orientation competition “Little Europe” – children had to run across the park to find the locations of the 27 capitals of the EU countries and receive a stamp. After collecting all stamps they received prizes – the awareness booklet “Flashboy: Mission Famillathlon”, magic folding cubes with the same Flashboy – the hero defender of the children online, EU starred balls and toys. For the parents the booklet “Are you able to talk with your children about Internet”.
A Safer Internet quiz competition from the stage on the theme “Think B4 U Post” brought additional prizes for the smartest answers.
More than 2000 parents and children took part in the whole day event and even the occasional showers could not spoil the joyful mood.
