Kenya can also host senior events. Why not?

What you need to know:

  • That Europe hosts 10 of the 14 events on the Diamond League calendar is an imbalance that must be addressed.

Having been in the heart of media operations at last month’s IAAF World Under-18 Championships in Nairobi, and currently covering the senior championships in London, I have no doubt in my mind that Kenya can host major sporting competitions.

Comparing media operations in Nairobi and London, for instance, there have been rave reviews on how Nairobi pulled it off in grand fashion despite the under-18s being the lowest in International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) age-group championships.

Stable and reliable Wi-Fi connections, a fast results service coupled with complimentary meals and drinks (including beer and spirits) for the local and international media have been huge talking points on the Nairobi success.

Local (and a select number of foreign) journalists were also accommodated free of charge by the Jackson Tuwei and Mwangi Muthee-led Local Organising Committee in Nairobi where brilliant volunteers were indefatigable in their delivery. Such largesse isn’t being enjoyed here and, unlike Nairobi where journalists received printed results promptly after each race, there are no such luxuries at the London Olympic Stadium, much to the chagrin of scribes here.

There’s no free food nor complimentary drinks while accommodation costs an arm and a leg. Indeed, Nairobi can match the big global capitals in event organisation if the under-18 championships are anything to go by.

What’s merely required is serious federation officials who should lobby for such competitions that not only place Kenya on the global map, but also help improve our infrastructure and build sports management capacity.

High on Athletics Kenya’s agenda, therefore should be a bid for the IAAF World Under-20 Championships that will set the stage for Nairobi possibly, and realistically, hosting the 2025 IAAF World Championships after the 2019 (Doha), 2021 (Eugene) and 2023 (yet to be decided) editions of the senior competition.

Of course, we also deserve a share of the IAAF Diamond League Series cake with a Nairobi leg to reward the contribution of Kenyan athletes to track and field, and to also make athletics a truly global sport.

Currently, Rabat (Morocco) hosts the only African leg of the series that a few years back made forays into Asia where the Shanghai and Doha legs have become quite popular.

That Europe hosts 10 of the 14 events on the Diamond League calendar is an imbalance that must be addressed. These thoughts should be on top of the next Sports Cabinet Secretary’s in-tray after the General Election.

We hope athletics, and indeed sports in general, will be high up the agenda of the incoming government because Kenya’s potential as a leading sporting nation has been thoroughly undermined for a long time by successive regimes.