Kip Keino Classic: Tuwei says Kenya will deliver a world class event

As Kenya braces to host the seventh and final leg of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series on Saturday, it is yet another opportunity for Kenya to showcase her prowess to host international events.

Having successfully hosted a successful World Under-18 Championships in 2017, it came as no surprise for Kenya to land the sole slot for African continent to host the inaugural one-day meet.

The event was initially planned to be the first meeting of the tour on May 2. However, due to Covid-19 pandemic it was pushed to September with three meetings in the series cancelled owing to the virus.

With president Uhuru Kenyatta having re-opened the refurbished Nyayo stadium that will host the meet, it paved the way for the organisers to engage the final gear to make the event a success.

President Kenyatta noted that Kenya hosting the event is not only in recognition of Kenya’s ability to host high magnitude events but also appreciates the country’s containment of coronavirus.

Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jackson Tuwei said the organisers are not leaving anything to chance as they put final touches on preparations for the event.

“We are working round the clock to make the event a success. Ever since we started our preparations, we set up committees to oversee every department. It is also important to note that an event cannot be successful without technical officials and now we will be having a refresher course for our officials on Thursday,” Tuwei said.

With Kenya having already placed a bid to host the 2025 World Championships, stakes will be even higher as the world will be closely monitoring the proceedings on Saturday.

Tuwei is however adamant that Kenya has experience to host big events owing to the success of hosting past events including the World Cross Country Championships in 2007 as well as the Africa Senior Athletics Championships in 2010.

“We have shown the world on several occasions that we are ready and capable of hosting big events like we have done before.  It is true that we placed a bid to host World Championships in 2025 and it is not only incumbent on the federation to realise that. We have to come together as a nation and put our hands together,” he said.

The AK chief thanked World Athletics for allowing organisers to include national events in the meeting programme where local athletes will have an opportunity to compete in the build up to the main events which will kick off in the evening.

The core events are only five events that were dropped from the Diamond League series that consist of; 3000m steeplechase, triple jump, discus, hammer throw and 200m both for men and women.

Alongside the core disciplines are discretionary events that include 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m and men’s javelin.