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Kenya expects top teams led by China for World Youth Championships

Xinhua, December 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Organizers of the 2017 World Youth Championships in Nairobi expect a strong representation from China, the United States and Germany in an event that will attract over 1,000 athletes from 155 countries and regions.

Mwangi Muthee, the head of the Local Organizing Committee, said China is planning to send in its team to train in Eldoret before the championships.

"We are negotiating with top teams who are keen to send their athletes to train in our country to acclimatize and improve their fitness ahead of the championships. It will be a big event and we are doing everything to prepare for it," said Muthee.

The United States, Bahrain, Qatar, Turkey, Botswana and Uganda are some of the countries that have their athletes training in Eldoret and Iten.

However, China may also utilize the same opportunity to send in their athletes ahead of the championships, which runs from July 12-16.

Already Britain has announced it will be sending its team to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau, Bahamas a week after and will give the World Youth Championships a bye.

At the same time, a German delegation led by the country's national youth coach Jorg Peter said they are satisfied with Nairobi's progress ahead of the World Youth Championships next year.

"One does not travel every day to Africa, so a good preparation of the German team's stay is required. The local organizing committee is looking forward to the event and are very pleased that we were there already and we were looking at the competition venues," said Peter.

However, the CEO of the Local Organizing Committee Mwangi Muthee said security and accommodation of the athletes will be given high priority.

"We want as many as possible to come, even set a record; and as Kenyans we should extend enthusiastic welcome. 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," said Muthee.

International Association of Athletic Federations has 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 and the Kenya government who backed this championships right from the onset when Nairobi bid as the host city." Endit