CAA to aid marketing of African Athletics Championships in Kenya

A delegation from Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) will visit Kenya next Tuesday to aid marketing efforts for the 17th African Athletics Championships.

At the same time, ordering for equipment needed to successfully host the continental event last held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last year will begin next week once the Local Organising Committee (LOC) approves the available tenders.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the event's CEO, David Okeyo, assured that despite late beginning to preparations, Kenya had ample time to stage a memorable event after work at the championships secretariat in Nairobi finally got under away after a long delay.

"We are working to ensure we host a great event and all the problems we had in the past are beyond us now after government fulfilled its commitments to the championships," Okeyo said.

The team from CAA that will come from Dakar consists of marketing experts from the continental athletics governing body and their visit follows up that of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)'s head of broadcasting, Ernest Obeng last week.

"They will advise with our marketing department on how to sell the event and work with the media to ensure the stadium is full on all five days the event will run," Okeyo added.

The CEO disclosed the fourth Athletics Kenya weekend track and field meeting on April 24 would act as the test run for the championships that run from July 28 to August 1.

"We intend to field participants in all the events that will be competed at the main event to put our facilities through a thorough test. The test meet will give us a two-month window to correct any mistakes we notice and acquire what will be missing," he explained.

Among the equipment to be ordered include an electronic score board that is expected to be in the country by March next year before being fully installed in time for the test event.

IAAF pledged to help organisers procure some of the track and field equipment needed to host the championships since most of those available are obsolete.

"We approached IAAF president Lamine Diack who promised to assist us obtain equipment in the form of discus, javelin, pole vault and other track and field accessories. We have already sent the list needed and budget and awaiting his reply. We will procure the rest," Okeyo said.

Source: Xinhua