Volunteers sought as global track and field contest nears

IAAF Media Delegate Olaf Brockmann (second, right) and Media Operations Manager Lavinia Maffia (front, left) inspect Kasarani Stadium on February 25, 2017. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Kenya to host 3,000 athletes from all over the world
  • Team Kenya preparations especially in field and sprint events could come to a halt due to lack of funds.

Individuals interested in volunteering during the World Under-18 Championships due July 12-16 at Kasarani have until Tuesday to register.

Registration of volunteers has been going on for a month on the championships’ website ( www.wu18nairobi2017.com/volunteers) intends to net 3,000 volunteers.

Volunteers will be the face of the championship set for Kenya, home to world-beating athletes. World Under-18 CEO Mwangi Muthee yesterday said anyone can be a volunteer during the championship.

Selection and interviews for volunteers will be conducted from March 1-14, with allocation of roles being done from March 15-31. They will be trained in April.

Volunteers will serve in various categories, among them event logistics, media and commercial, spectator services, sport and technical, sport presentation, hospitality, medical service, technology and VIP and protocol.

“Volunteers who will receive an official volunteer uniform to wear during shifts, will be required for the duration of the championship, with some selected roles required outside of the competition dates,” said Muthee.

Muthee indicated that the championship’s website would be launched on Tuesday at Kasarani in the presence of the World Under-18 Championships patron First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.

“She has been committed to this course and we hope she will make it for the launch,” said Muthee, who briefed the First Lady on the progress made in preparations for the championships on Monday at State House.

IAAF’s media delegates Olaf Brockmann and Lavinia Maffia have been in the country for the last three days to inspect facilities ahead of the World Under-18 competition. The two officials who toured Kasarani and Kenyatta University hostels yesterday,  will today address the local media on their findings.

Kenya is expected to host close to 3,000m athletes and officials from over 150 countries for the world youth event.

Meanwhile, Team Kenya preparations especially in field and sprint events could come to a halt due to lack of funds.

Athletics Kenya chairman in charge of youth development Barnabas Korir said that a training camp that was being held in Nairobi featuring 30 athletes in field and sprint events has tentatively been stopped.

Korir requested the Ministry of Sports to urgently release the funds to facilitate the camps. “We were happy when the Local Organising Committee donated equipment, which we have distributed to several camps across the country,” Korir said. “But we can’t continue having the camps since there are no funds to take care of the athletes among logistics.”

Korir disclosed that they have forwarded their budget to the ministry but indicated that the move to have Team Kenya under LOC could prove counterproductive. “That is why its taking ages to have funds for the youth camps,” said Korir.