MUMBAI: The IAAF announced on Thursday that Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi will be hosting the 2020 IAAF World Athletics U20 Championships. The city’s candidacy was formally endorsed by the IAAF Council in Buenos Aires.
Nairobi’s claim was strong following the successful IAAF World U18 Championships in 2017, which saw over 60,000 people attend the event.
During a recent visit to the IAAF headquarters in Monaco, the Principal Secretary for Sports in Kenya, Ambassador Kirimi Kaberia, noted that 42 percent of Kenya’s population was under 15 (only 17 percent over 50) and sport was a vital component in the country’s development.
“Athletics is a very important part of our life. Everyone loves athletics in Kenya. You saw it during the world under 18 and you will see it again in 2020,” Kaberia said.
IAAF president Sebastian Coe lauded the Kenyan Government’s strong support for the Nairobi bid and said it would be an ideal host for the championships.
“The U20 Championships showcases the future of our sport so Kenya, with a young and enthusiastic population and such a rich history in athletics, is a perfect fit for us,” Coe said.
“We hope that awarding these championships will further encourage the development of athletics in Kenya and all over Africa, which is such a vibrant part of our international federation.”
The president of Athletics Kenya, Lt Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei said:
“The Executive Committee of AK, athletes and entire athletics fraternity are very excited to receive the good news from the IAAF that Kenya has been selected to host the WU20 in 2020. It is indeed a great honour to us all, particularly the great athletes who have significantly contributed to the development of world athletics over the years. All are welcomed back to Kenya, the home of heroes.”
The IAAF World U20 Championships Nairobi 2020 has been scheduled for July 7-12, 2020.
