Page 14 - World Under 18 Championships

WORLD U18

MESSAGE FROM THE CABINET SECRETARY FOR SPORTS,

CULTURE AND THE ARTS - HON. DR. HASSAN WARIO ARERO

time when our track and fi eld competitors are on top
of the ‘Athletics World’. Kenya is a powerhouse in the
world of athletics, having topped the medals table at
the last IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China
in 2015. For many years, Kenyans have been making
their presence felt, trotting the globe, breaking world
KYEB
records or setting best times in events. We cannot
hide our excitement that Kenyan athletes are some of
the most active and most travelled across theworld.
Having Kenyan athletes participating in an event
is always a boost and a pedigree to the hosts. We
wish to commend the IAAF for emphasising the
development of the youth in sports. Kenyan Youth
development strategy entails identifying Youths as
they progress with their Primary School education.
It appears that for a long time to come Kenyans
will continue ruling the ‘roads and tracks’ of long
distance running. In the last two years, Kenyans
have won almost 80% of city marathons around
the world. Our athletes have become Kenya’s best
Ambassadors around the world. e playing of our
KENYA YEARBO0K
National Anthem when our athletes win at major
events gives us a sense of belonging, patriotism and
the urge to scale higher. Since the fi rst IAAF World
U18 Championships in 1999 in Poland, up to the ninth
EDITORIAL BOARD
Championships in Cali, Colombia in 2015, Kenyans
have been at the top of the Medal Table.
We highly recognize the World Anti-Doping
Agency (WADA) for the fight against doping in
sports. Kenya is committed to WADA’s programme
through the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK),
n behalf of the Kenya Government and the which was established a year ago. I wish to thank
Sports fraternity, I welcome all delegations the IAAF for choosing Kenya to host these World
Ofrom around the World to these 10th and last U18 Championships. We hope the IAAF will con-
International Association of Athletics Federations sider Kenya as a host for other events in future. We
(IAAF) World Under 18 Championships being held are proud to be a secure country. We feel greatly
here in Nairobi, Kenya. We know you have travelled honoured with the IAAF presence here and more
thousands of kilometres from different countries so for the overwhelming support and confidence
- Karibuni Kenya. bestowed on Kenya to stage this event. However,
Kenyans feel privileged to host the what used to be goals of this event would not have been met without
known as the IAAF World Youth Championships at a the wholehearted support of His Excellency President

14 | ACTIVITIES AND OCCURENCES DURING WORLD U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS