[Sports Day] Songs for footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [classics & J-pop]
The footrace event, the climax of any sports day! It gets everyone fired up—both the kids running and the adults watching.
And to make the race even more exciting, you can’t go without the right BGM.
Here, we’ve put together a selection of recommended songs for footrace events.
From timeless classics you’ve surely heard before to the latest buzzworthy J-pop hits, we’ve curated tracks that people of all generations can enjoy.
Every song is full of sprinting energy and is sure to double the excitement of the competition! Use this as a guide to help bring your sports day to life!
- [Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!
- [March, Foot Races, Dance] Energetic songs and the latest hits to liven up a sports day
- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
- From classics to fan favorites! A catalog of music and BGM to liven up your sports day
- [Sports Day] Entrance songs that will hype the crowd! A comprehensive roundup from classics to the latest hits
- Songs that hype up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals: Japanese Music / J-Pop Artist Rankings [2026]
- Recommended exit songs for a sports day: a curated selection that perfectly suits a brisk, running exit!
- Recommended for sports days and recreational events! Easy-to-dance Disney classics and popular dance songs
- [Sports Day BGM] A selection of classic tunes that liven up the venue
- Get Fired Up! A Collection of Anime Songs to Hype Up Your Sports Day and Athletic Festival
- [March] Carefully selected popular songs recommended for entrance and exit at sports days and athletic festivals!
- [2026] Curated J-POP to Energize Sports Days and Athletic Festivals! Also Great as Entrance Music
- Sing and dance along to popular songs! Recommended hits from kids’ TV shows.
[Sports Day] Songs that match footraces. Tracks that make kids want to run [Classics & J‑POP] (71–80)
Theme from Mission: Impossible
When you say “a footrace,” it sounds kind of cute, but for the runners themselves it’s a serious contest.
How about this piece to heighten that tension? Thanks to the hit film Mission: Impossible, this tune became known around the world.
You know how you’re watching TV and suddenly this music starts playing? That’s how ingrained it is in Japan, making it perfect for a school sports day.
Plus, there are many different arranged versions out there, so it’s worth looking for one you like.
GO!!!FLOW
This track stands out with its exhilarating, high-energy sound.
Its positive message and powerful melody inspire courage in listeners.
Released in 2004, it became a major hit as the opening theme for the anime Naruto.
As one of FLOW’s signature songs, it earned widespread support both in Japan and abroad.
It’s also perfect as background music for a school sports day race! It’s sure to fire up children’s hearts and make them want to run at full speed.
A song everyone can get excited about, from kids to adults.
YOUNG BLOODONE N’ ONLY
A danceable number is perfect for an intense sprint event! “YOUNG BLOOD,” released in 2022 by the music group ONE N’ ONLY, who are active on radio and TV, is a track filled with passionate emotion.
It’s crafted as EDM with the weighty feel of deep house.
With its energetic melody line throughout, it’s sure to boost the athletes’ momentum.
It’s also a number that will get supporters hyped, with clapping and dancing to cheer them on.
[Sports Day] Songs that go well with footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [Classics & J‑Pop] (81–90)
The Flight of the BumblebeeNikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
The Flight of the Bumblebee is characterized by a speedy main melody that feels as if you’re tumbling down a slope.
It was composed by the Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
Owing to its rapid tempo, it’s also known as a virtuosic showpiece—there’s even a Guinness World Record for how fast someone can perform The Flight of the Bumblebee on guitar.
The music truly evokes the image of a bumblebee buzzing frenetically about.
It seems perfect for events where lots of people are dashing around, like a fast-paced competition.
Odoru Pompoko RinGōruden Bonbā
No explanation needed—when it comes to the beloved national anime Chibi Maruko-chan, this is the song.
Starting with B.B.
Queens, and later E-girls, Momoiro Clover Z, and the band we’re introducing here, Golden Bomber, many famous artists have sung it.
Honestly, it’s harder to find someone who doesn’t know it.
If you need a track for a little child giving their all in a footrace, this is the one I recommend first.
Actually, it would fit just about any scene at a school sports day.
Make your event even more fun with Odoru Pompokolin!
HuntingJohann Strauss II
The polka is a dance tune in duple meter that’s often used at events like school sports days.
Even if you don’t know the title, it’s one of those “I’ve heard this before!” pieces.
This song is one of those too—it’s a number from a Viennese operetta, but it’s also a classic track for footraces.
New EraAdo
This song, which drew attention as the theme for the film ONE PIECE FILM RED, carries a message of hope for the future and transformation.
With Ado’s powerful vocals and Yasutaka Nakata’s production, it leaves a strong impression on listeners.
Conveying a positive message about forging a path to the future through music while facing real-life hardships, it’s a perfect anthem to cheer on children taking on their big moment.
Play it as background music for a race, and the entire venue will be filled with excitement.