Page 24 - World Under 18 Championships

WORLD U18

H.E President opened the WU18 Championships enthusiasm for attendance was built was mainly
e LOC extend the invitation HE President Uhuru thanks to the media. Great stories came out and
Kenyatta, family, staff and friends to attend the spectacular scenes of a packed 65,000 capacity
the opening ceremony of the IAAF World U18 Kasarani Stadium on the penultimate and fi nal day
Championships. Indeed, HE the President accepted were thanks also to the Press.
to be and was chief guest of the opening ceremony Contractors and suppliers: ey delivered on con-
on Wednesday July 12 at 3.55pm. struction and provision of goods and services. e
On Sunday, July 16 and 4.12pm HE Mrs Margaret fl awless operations during the Championships an
Kenyatta graciously attended as chief guest the af- understanding corps of professionals putting the job
ternoon/evening session of the Championships and fi rst even before sometimes diffi cult circumstances
KYEB
graded at 7.25pm the offi cial Closing Ceremony.
meted out by a less perfect execution of their remu-
neration. e LOC appreciated their patience during
Other distinguished service to the Championships
some of those trying moments
Security Operations: From the world teams’ entry
point, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, to
the Athletes’ Village, IAAF Family and International
IAAF:
Media accommodations, to the Venue and the general
Nairobi’s environment, the Championships were
Tributes to the IAAF at this point of this report does
safe for participants and spectators, passing with-
not denote degree of importance. The LOC were
out an ugly incident. e work by the Ministry of
overwhelmed by the deluge of support from many
Interior and the country’s security organs including
top officials of the IAAF including first by many
the Kenya Police, Kenya Prisons Service, the Kenya
technical offi cials going up to their seniors Mr Paul
Wildlife Service and the National Youth Service was
one of full dedication and we cannot take for granted
and indeed up to Council member Ms Sylvia Barlag
the fact that there were no security breaches.
and the President himself Lord Sebastian Coe.
Volunteers: Hardy, the Chief Executive Offi cer Mr Olivier Gers
We hope that LOC and Kenya did make the impres-
KENYA YEARBO0K
sion to the IAAF that some its less endowed members
e huge battery of volunteers did the country proud.
round the way have the enthusiasm and the ability
Many of them young and on their fi rst ever such en-
to welcome the rest of the world to big events staged
gagement many acquitted themselves like hardened
by “minnows”.
EDITORIAL BOARD
veterans. ey were an excellent promotion of a good
Beaten by the bug of seeing such lovely competition
image about our country because they had fi rst hand
on our doorsteps Kenyans are indeed dead serious
and many hour contacts with visitors. I am glad to
that we want more in the future and through IAAF
have heard many kind words about the behavior of
Kenya’s young adults and budding professionals on guidance we dare to dream that we can very soon
host an IAAF Under-20 Championships, be candi-
all spheres of professions. dates for a future venue of the annual World Athletics
Media: Series Diamond League and indeed the IAAF World
Athletics Championships as reasonably soon as 2025.
From the beginning to the end Kenya’s media was
excellent. eir preparations for coverage started long Caution about refurbished facilities at
before hand being at the centre of many seminars and Kasarani:
skill-learning sessions conducted round the country
by the LOC’s Directorate of Media and Broadcasting. In conclusion, after all uplifting review of the IAAF
e spotlight on positive and critical coverage was WU18 Championships, Nairobi 2017, is just one nag-
never away from the Championships during the ging worry. What happens to the shining scene of ex-
preparation period when the LOC faced challenges cellent venue, wonderful facilities that may have led
and immediate prior to the Championships when the world to believe it was an everyday “normality”

24 | ACTIVITIES AND OCCURENCES DURING WORLD U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS