President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed his gratitude to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) after they selected Nairobi to host the World Athletics U20 in 2020 beating other countries including the US.
The selection was done by the body's council which had been deliberating on who the host would be among countries that included, US, Russia, China, Sweden, and Netherlands.
In a post seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Uhuru stated: "I am delighted that IAAF has selected Nairobi to host the 2020 U20 IAAF World Championships.
"This is a vote of confidence in our ability to deliver on a massive global event and recognition of our status as a powerhouse in athletics. We set the bar with the U18s. ASANTE SANA!" the president asserted.
[caption caption="Spectators at the IAAF World U18 Championships 2017 in Nairobi"]
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The IAAF, while making the announcement, revealed that "Nairobi's candidacy was formally endorsed by the IAAF Council in Buenos Aires" on Thursday.
"By hosting an outstanding final edition of the IAAF World U18 Championships last year, Nairobi demonstrated its readiness to take the next step as a championship host," IAAF added.
The sports body also pointed out that during the U18 championships, "Crowds of up to 60,000 attended the U18 Championships at Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre, creating an exciting atmosphere for the young athletes who had gathered from around the globe, and those attending the 2020 event can expect the same experience."
Moreover, the IAAF president Sebastian Coe noted the Kenyan Government’s strong support for the Nairobi bid concluding it would be an ideal host for the championships.
"The U20 Championships showcases the future of our sport so Kenya, with a young and enthusiastic population and such a rich history in athletics, is a perfect fit for us," Ceo mentioned.
Deputy President William Ruto also took to social media to welcome the decision announcing: "Kenya is delighted to host the IAAF U20 World Athletics Championships in 2020. The event will showcase the prodigious talent of our athletes; reaffirm our dominance; shape the future of our sport and represent a huge opportunity to market the country."
Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa also acknowledged the news assuring the body that "we will put proper plans, structures, and systems in place to ensure that the event runs smoothly and successfully."
On his part, Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen also applauded the body for selecting Kenya over all the other countries in the world.
[caption caption="Kenyan athlete during the IAAF World U18 Championships"]
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