Kenya on the brink of hosting World Scrabble championships

Kenya on the brink of hosting World Scrabble championships

Kenya is crossing fingers it will get the chance to host the 2017 World Scrabble Championships with Canada the only competing nation left among the 32 that bid for the most prestigious event in the English-language board game.

The announcement by the World English-Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) of the winning bidder will be made at the end of next month.

“After the first round to choose the bidder, Kenya was among the five remaining alongside Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Sri Lanka and Great Britain. After the second round, its Kenya and Canada bidding to host the championship,” Patrick Gitonga Nderitu who is a player and member of the bid delegation explained.

If successful, Kenya will be the first African nation to host the championship.

Last year, the country finished second behind Nigeria in the world championships held in Perth, Australia.

“After the 2015 World Championship, it was agreed the host of the next edition would be selected through bidding and Kenya placed its bid,” Nderitu added.

Kenya which has participated in the WESPA Championships since 1991, is hoping to be declared the winner when the announcement is made on May 31.

“If Kenya will get that chance it will be another historic moment for the nation with a proud athletics heritage after world body IAAF’s Governing Council accepted Kenya’s bid to host a global track and field meeting for the first time in Kenya next year.

“Kenya is a peaceful country and tourist destination which we hope will be considered over Canada,” Gitonga remarked.

Kirinyaga County has produced the best players and Gitonga believes it will host the event after hosting last year’s national championship that was used to select the team that went to compete in Perth, Australia.

Tags:

kenya Patrick Gitonga Nderitu WESPA World English-Language Scrabble Players Association World Scrabble Championships

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