Nairobi 2017 IAAF World U18 organisers expect 155 nations

Organisers expect about 155 countries to attend the IAAF World U18 Championships that Nairobi will be hosting between July 12 and 16 next year and they have already had a visit from managers of the Germany team planning on logistics of their participation.

Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chief Executive Officer Mwangi Muthee said on Friday that world governing body IAAF had put in a lot of efforts in sending technical delegations to Nairobi to advise on the planning and preparation of the event.

“We are through with planning and are now on implementation of all that is required for a great event. We have full support of the event owners, that is IAAF, organising member of IAAF, that is Athletics Kenya (AK) and the host institution which is the Kenya Government who backed this championships right from the onset when Nairobi bid as the host city.”

Muthee also added: “Many countries in the world, ours and many in Africa included are enthusiastic about this competition and make it a priority. For some it may not be, but an overwhelming majority are eager to come here. The IAAF have told us as much and asked us to get ready,”

He said that only a few days ago, the LOC had received endorsement over their preparation work from Malboum Kalkaba, the Cameroonian head of the African athletics body, who is an IAAF vice-president. “He relayed to us a message of support from IAAF President, Seb Coe.”

The few countries that will not be coming to Nairobi, to attend the last of this IAAF event at this age group have already informed the world body; and that includes Britain.

But Kenyan organisers said their refurbishing of the competition and warm-up venues and the Moi International Sports Centre on Nairobi’s north eastern suburbs and establishing an Athletes’ Village at Kenyatta University, a few kilometres from the MISC, would be a championships legacy.

“Obviously we shall benefit from organisational capacity building,” Muthee said, adding: “And then we shall be hoping to be in line to host the IAAF World Under-20 Championships, an event Kenya teams are also renown for, say as quickly as 2020. We are already viewed as realistic hosts for 2020.”

He said that the IAAF had over 200 affiliate members but the average attendance at the youth championships was between 130 to 155 countries. “We want as many as possible to come, even set a record; and as Kenyans we should extend enthusiastic welcome.”

He added: “This is a very important event for the youth. The opportunity to travel, see new places, make new friends and enjoy the camaraderie is something one should not deny them.”

He said hosting the event will be a good test of Kenya’s ability to organise world class events. “We are known for hosting great gatherings in many spheres but in sporting competitions, this is a completely new landmark.”

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athletics Seb Coe Mwangi Muthee IAAF Nairobi 2017 World Under 18 Ahmad Kalkaba

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