New World U-20 dates could be known next month, hints Tuwei
From left: Athletics Kenya senior vice president Paul Mutwii, president Jack Tuwei and youth and development director Barnaba Korir have a chat at Nyayo National stadium on June 25, 2020 during the distribution of food and cash to Nairobi region’s camp for the World Under-20 Championships. PHOTO | SILA KIPLAGAT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Tuwei said Kenya was still determined to put up a world class event superseding the success of the Nairobi 2017 World Athletics Under-18 Championships
- The Under-20 event originally scheduled for July 7-12 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, but was deferred owing to Covid-19 pandemic
- Tuwei said 1,500 juniors will receive the packages as Athletics Kenya prepares to visit the two remaining camps in Mombasa and Garissa
World Athletics will likely announce next month the new dates for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships, Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei said Thursday.
Tuwei said Kenya was still determined to put up a world class event superseding the success of the Nairobi 2017 World Athletics Under-18 Championships.
The Under-20 event originally scheduled for July 7-12 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, but was deferred owing to Covid-19 pandemic.
Tuwei said World Athletics wanted the event pushed to 2021.
Tuwei was speaking at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium where Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohammed presided over the distribution of food and cash to Nairobi region’s camp for the World Under-20 Championships.
Tuwei said so far 18 camps for the World Under-20 event in Great Rift, Nyanza and Western have benefited from the stimulus package worth Sh7 million.
The cash is meant to cover up for the cost of April camps for the World Under-20 competition. The camps were not held because of the coronavirus pandemic restrictions.
Africa Under-20 400m champion Mary Moraa was among 40 athletes from Nairobi who received Sh3,000 cash and food donation worth a similar amount. Juniors from the other 17 camps received similar packages.
Tuwei said 1,500 juniors will receive the packages as Athletics Kenya prepares to visit the two remaining camps in Mombasa and Garissa.
“We really want to thank the government for considering to cushion the young athletes as they prepare for the world event,” said Tuwei, who was accompanied by Athletics Kenya director for youth and development Barnaba Korir and senior vice president Paul Mutwii.
“Our athletes lack food and proper training facilities. They don't have basic things like training shoes and tracksuits,” Korir said. “They lack somewhere to train like a stadium especially with camps and schools closed."
Korir said AK could learn lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic. "We now, more than ever, need to focus on grass root development to keep our granary rich.”
