NAIROBI, July 25 – The government has pledged total support for the 2010 Africa Athletics Championships which will be held in Nairobi.
Speaking during the official launch of the organising committee for the games on Thursday night, Minister for Sports Hellen Sambili said the government would work hand in hand with the committee to ensure that the championships are successful.
“We will give you all the support you for the championships because we know the value of hosting it here and we want it t9o be the best ever,” she said.
Sambili added that the championships would benefit Kenya in many ways by boosting sports tourism as well as helping upgrade our facilities.
“We will be able to improve our local facilities and make them even better and it will also help us improve in field events as Kenya will enter athletes in every discipline including field events.”
She added that the championships would also provide a good chance with a chance to watch their own stars perform on home soil.
“It will give our athletes a chance to compete and win on home soil in front of thousands of fans and will give the fans a chance to see the athletes in person and cheer them to victory,” said Sambili.
“Most importantly it will inspire young upcoming athletes to work even harder and attain a similar or higher degree of sporting excellence,” she added.
Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat will head the steering committee that will also include National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) chairman Kipchoge Keino, Kenya National Sports Council (KNSC) chairman Joshua Okuthe, Commissioner of Sports Gordon Oluoch and Sports secretary Daniel Maanzo.
Lieutenant General Jackson Tuwei will head the local organising committee which will have athletics Kenya Secretary General David Okeyo as its CEO. Grace Kiraguri will be in charge of marketing, Ibrahim Hussein will be the technical director, while Chris Kuto will be head of logistics.
Alf Kimani will be incharge of medical department, Joseph Kinyua will be look after finances, Peter Angwenyi will handle media issues and Brigadier Khisa will be incharge of protocol.
Jonathan Koskei will handle security while Commerce issues will be undertaken by Sam Mwai.
Tuwei promised that they would work hard to ensure that they stage the best championships yet.
“We have started the race today and God willing, we shall finish successfully in 20101 because we owe to the country and I have no doubt we shall deliver,” he said.
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