Page 80 - World Under 18 Championships

WORLD U18

Opening Ceremony Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts Dr. Hassan
Wario Arero, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sports,
e opening ceremony was designed to showcase Culture and the Arts, Ministry of Sports, Culture and
Kenya’s ability to host an international champion- the Arts Amb. Kirimi P. Kaberia, President, Athletics
ship which was executed as a powerful performance Kenya, Athletics Kenya Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei,
of some of the best Kenya has to offer in terms of LOC CEO Mwangi Muthee, Kenyan Star Athletes,
current entertainment trends. and other notable guests.
Held inside the Moi International Sports Centre, the Preparations in readiness for the event involved
ceremony was a beautiful depiction of Kenya’s cul- brainstorming sessions with leading production in-
ture, its formidable prowess in athletics, sheer energy dividuals in the country, hours of choreography and
KYEB
practice with artist and school children. As tasked,
and readiness. e occasion was graced by H. E the
IMG supervised the creative process and the event
President Uhuru Kenyatta, H.E e First Lady and
execution.
Patron to the championship Margaret Kenyatta, IAAF
President Lord Sebastian Coe, Cabinet Secretary,
Opening Ceremony Program
H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta and IAAF President Sebastian Coe made entry into Kasarani Stadium
1540Hrs
and proceeded to the VIP dais
National Anthem
The Kenya Police Band played the Kenyan and East Africa Anthem.

Main Show
1545Hrs
Groups of performing artists made entry into the stadium through the competitors entrance and
fi led into the competition areas in the following sequence:
KENYA YEARBO0K
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
EDITORIAL BOARD
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
Kenyatta. The program then proceeded into speeches as follows:
1. Chairman LOC
2. President IAAF
3. President Republic of Kenya

1620 Hrs Opening of the IAAF World U18 Championships
H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta o cially declared the 2017 IAAF U18 World Championships open,
marking the close of the opening ceremony.

80 | ACTIVITIES AND OCCURENCES DURING WORLD U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS