Uganda to host 2017 IAAF World Cross Country
Nov 19, 2014
Uganda will host the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, the International Association of Athletics Federations Council announced on Tuesday.
By Norman Katende in Monaco
Uganda will host the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, the International Association of Athletics Federations Council announced on Tuesday.
Team Uganda beat Bahrain to host the biennial event that is set to be held on March 23 at Kololo Ceremonial grounds. The championship is expected to attract over 700 athletes and 200 journalists.
The last time an IAAF World Cross Country Championship event came to Africa was in 2007 in Mombasa.
“The hosts for the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships is Uganda,” IAAF president Lamine Diack announced. Jubilation erupted in front of the IAAF Council members as soon as the announcement was made.
Diack later advised Uganda that work starts now and they (Uganda) should prove that IAAF made a good decision.
Team Uganda, which was led by State sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi made a good presentation courtesy of Uganda Athletics Federation secretary, Beatrice Ayikoru and though the results of the actual voting were not announced, it is believed that the bid was overwhelmingly supported by the IAAF Council members.
Bakkabulindi’s input of government’s support, including a pledge by President Yoweri Museveni to offer all shining athletes a monthly stipend as long as they are still active and the building of the National High Altitude centre, which is expected to have the athletics section completed first in Teryet, were some of the strong points that saw Team Uganda win the bid.
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Charles-Bakkabulindi signs the documents confirming Kampala as host city. PHOTO: Norman Katende
“We have a president who is passionate about athletics. He does not only receive all athletes whenever they shine but has gone a step further to give them a monthly stipend to motivate them. Not even football players get that,” Bakkabulindi summed up everything before the IAAF council gave them a standing ovation for the presentation.
Ayikoru had earlier told the IAAF council about Uganda’s developing infrastructure, the success stories of all Ugandan athletes including the Kids Athletics Programme and the different tourist destinations in a bid that was supported by almost all the council members.
“It is the beginning. We have now started the journey,” Bakkabulindi said.
Later on KCCA legal officer Charles Ouma, Uganda athletics federation president Domenic Otuchet and Bakkabulindi signed contracts together with Lamine Diack confirming Kampala as a host city.
Kenya also won the award to host the 2017 World Youth Championships while Qatar will be hosting the World Championships in 2017.
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