Page 86 - WU183.indd

WORLD U18

Opening Ceremony Program
1540Hrs H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta and IAAF President Sebastian Coe made entry into Kasarani Stadium
and proceeded to the VIP dais
National Anthem
The Kenya Police Band played the Kenyan and East Africa Anthem.
1545Hrs Main Show
Groups of performing artists made entry into the stadium through the competitors entrance and
fi led into the competition areas in the following sequence:
KYEB
1. A group of 20 drummers playing di erent percussions walked onto the track
2. 40 Sarakasi dancers dancing to the drum pattern closely followed
Highlight: H.E The First Lady Margaret Kenyatta fl anked by former and current athletes including
1555 Hrs
David Rudisha, Ezekiel Kemboi and Catherine Ndereba walked into the stadium and midway
broke into a jog to the dais through the competitors’ entrance

This team was closely followed by 120 school children each holding a fl ag of a participating
country in alphabetical order and proceeded to fi le up all around the track.
Simultaneously, the following artists performed across the dais where a stage had been set up.
They performed in the following sequence:
1. 12 horne players
2. Redforth: A 100 piece school choir
3. Amos and Josh duet performance

1610 Hrs
H.E the fi rst Lady completed her half lap upon which was warmly received by H.E President Uhuru
KENYA YEARBO0K
Kenyatta. The program then proceeded into speeches as follows:
1. Chairman LOC
2. President IAAF
3. President Republic of Kenya
EDITORIAL BOARD
Opening of the IAAF World U18 Championships
1620 Hrs
H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta o cially declared the 2017 IAAF U18 World Championships open,
marking the close of the opening ceremony.

• A pre-produced opening ceremony video was them. is could have helped them understand the
pulled out at the last minute. is was due in part role of artists and prioritized their accreditation.
to late review of the video by the IAAF event pre- • Better coordination between production team
sentation team and loss of time due to the produc- and event presentation team to ensure that all
tion crew’s limited access to key areas within the elements of the ceremony are captured on camera
stadium. at the right time.
• Key guests should be well briefed on the program
Recommendations and their speaking notes reviewed to ensure they
keep within allotted time.
• Identifi cation and onboarding of all service pro-
viders should be done at least six months prior Closing Ceremony
to the event to allow time for preparations.
• Accreditation directorate should have a whole- e closing ceremony was a beautiful showcase by
some appreciation of the diff erent elements that performing artists, past record breaking Kenyan
go into event production and adequately plan for athletes and all participating youth athletes coor-

86 | ACTIVITIES AND OCCURENCES DURING WORLD U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS