Kenya enters race to host 2029 World Athletics Championships
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 07.11.24. | 08:25
Murkomen assured that the government is working diligently to deliver top-quality facilities for the championship by completing renovations at Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium
Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, revealed on Wednesday, 6 November, that Kenya has officially submitted a bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
Speaking after visiting the Athletics Kenya (AK) offices at Riadha House, Murkomen stated that Kenya has addressed all the issues that led to its unsuccessful bid to host the 2025 edition.
Kenya lost that bid primarily due to infrastructure challenges, with Tokyo securing the rights to host the 2025 event.
Murkomen assured that the government is working diligently to deliver top-quality facilities for the championship by completing renovations at Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium.
He added that the ministry will collaborate closely with World Athletics experts to renovate the tracks at these stadiums to meet international standards.
“We are determined to build modern facilities... we are competent and capable, as we have the resources to make that happen and work,” Murkomen told Nation Sport.
As a ministry, we are channelling resources to the grassroots for the development of young talent. One of our key partners in this initiative is the Athletics Kenya.
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) November 6, 2024
This year, we're supporting Athletics Kenya to roll out an enhanced holiday youth training camps program across… pic.twitter.com/aC2N7U0kni
He also confirmed that the MISC and Nyayo National Stadium will be ready by the end of the year ahead of the CHAN tournament.
Engineers are currently working on installing a canopy at Kasarani and addressing issues with the surface, including drainage, soil mixture, and leveling challenges.
“We have brought in Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) experts from Europe to assist,” Murkomen said, adding that similar technology will be used at the 50,000-seater Talanta Sports City arena at the Jamhuri Sports Complex.
Murkomen announced plans to triple funding for the Talanta Hela Initiative, especially for youth camps across disciplines like athletics, football, and basketball.
“What disturbs me is marginalization. I can't believe areas like Marsabit can’t produce sportspeople and that the entire North Eastern has no stadium while there were no plans to build one. I want to change that mindset,” he said.
Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jack Tuwei stated that World Athletics had already discussed Kenya’s application in August and accepted it.
Kenya’s bid will be prepared by a team led by three-time Boston Marathon winner Ibrahim Kipkemboi Hussein. “Our application was accepted and added to the list of countries bidding,” said Tuwei, explaining that Kenya’s 2025 bid failed due to infrastructure issues.
“We didn’t give up and decided to try again. We made a special request to the government, and I thank the CS for facilitating the application,” Tuwei added, expressing his satisfaction with the ongoing construction and renovations of new stadiums to meet infrastructure requirements.
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