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IAAF team due in Kenya to inspect U18 athletics event facilities

Xinhua, May 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

A delegation of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) will next week visit Nairobi to inspect the facilities for the U-18 World Athletics Championships to be held in July.

The team from the IAAF headquarters in Monaco will consist of CEO, Olivier Gers and the Events and Competitions Director Paul Hardy, and will be the last group of delegates to inspect the facilities ahead of the event.

"The level of government support for the games is overwhelming. The authorities are fully supportive of the competition and are offering every support needed to stage successful last episode of the games," Local Organizing Committee (LOC) CEO Mwangi Muthee told Xinhua in Nairobi.

"I have been in sports for over 30 years and never before have I seen such level of commitment directed towards any sporting event taking place in Kenya," Muthee said.

The CEO said all civil works and equipping of the Athletes' Village at Kenyatta University, including a five-star kitchen is complete and ready for handover to the games organizers.

"We are negotiating with a five-star hotel to provide catering services to the athletes who will use the facility during the occasion because the caterers will be operating on familiar grounds owing to the awesome state of the kitchen," Muthee said.

According to Muthee, the Athletes Village will be able to host any function after the championship because of the fabulous workmanship that has been undertaken towards it that gave it major renewal.

The games will bring a shine on the faces of Kenyans, who he called upon to fully support the event and fill the stadium during the days of competition.

Event organisers expect about 155 countries and regions to attend the championship that is scheduled between July 12-16.

The IAAF had put in a lot of efforts in sending technical delegations to Nairobi to advise on the planning and preparation of the event.

Kenyan organizers have also refurbished the competition and warm-up venues at Kasarani Stadium, the venue of the event.

The IAAF has over 200 affiliate members, but the average attendance at the youth championships is between 130 to 155 countries and regions. Endit