NAIROBI, Kenya, September 3 – Athletics Kenya (AK) chairman Isaiah Kiplagat is confident that next year’s Africa Athletics Championships will be a success.Kiplagat said that the competition’s secretariat will move into Nyayo National Stadium to intensify preparations for the bi-annual event to be held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
“Preparations are going on very well. I can assure you that if things continue to move the way they are we should be able to move the secretariat to Nyayo Sadium,” said Kiplagat on Thursday.
Kiplagat added that a batch of officials will arrive in Kenya on Monday next week to assess how the event is being marketed and to assist where possible.
“The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) has agreed to give us a grant of Sh20 million. The IAAF president has also been kind to secure some equipment for us,” said Kiplagat.
The chairman was speaking on the sidelines of a course for track and filed umpires who will be charged with officiating at the championships.
Officials from each province are being taken through the intricacies of making sure that the action on the track runs smoothly.
“We have started with twenty individuals but we will continue recruiting until we have enough numbers for the championship,” said Kiplagat.
“Officiating standards have been poor in this country. This is the reason why we have this course and we are going to use it to sieve those who are below par,” he added.