IAAF to inspect Nairobi 2017 World U18 media facilities

Delegates from the IAAF Communications Department are set to arrive in the country on Friday ahead of an inspection tour of the Nairobi World Under 18 Championships media facilities over the weekend.

Press Delegate, Olaf Brockmann and Media Operations Manager Lavinia Maffia will assess the state of host stadium Moi Sports International Center, Kasarani as well as the Athletes’ Village in Kenyatta University.

They will access the designated Press Center, Press Tribune, Mixed Zone, Media Hotels and the venue for the opening press conference.

Later on Sunday, they will engage the press in a question-and-answer forum as they seek to address concerns related to media accreditation, press kits, transportation options during the championships, official interviews and IAAF post-competition procedures.

Kenyan authorities are scrambling to ease security concerns as raised by six countries that have since withdrawn from the global competition as its build up continues to take hits.

Earlier this month, defending champions USA became the highest profile nation to pull out of the showpiece, joining New Zealand, Britain, Australia, Canada and Switzerland.

Nairobi will host the last competition of its kind after the IAAF Council Meeting, decided to conclude the championship after the 2017 edition.

The decision – reached after 2016 Summer Games in Brazil –  was made with the intention of improving under-18 competitions at continental level instead.