Kampala 2017: IAAF team inspect Kololo

ATHLETICS

Uganda is set to host the 42nd edition of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships - considered the most important competition in international cross country running.

The March 2017 event will take place in Kampala.

Uganda will host the global cross-country event a decade after it was last staged in Africa. Guiyang (China) hosted the previous edition in 2015.

On Friday, a delegation from the IAAF inspected Kololo ceremonial grounds, the venue for the event. Earlier, they had met with Uganda vice president Edward Ssekandi.

The same day (of inspection), Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) executive director addressed a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre before being handed the IAAF flag by the inspection team.

Public servants wait for the validation of their national IDs at the Kololo grounds

Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) secretary, also the secratary of Kampala 2017 local organising committe (LOC) Faustino Kiwa explains to the IAAF delegation about the expected changes at Kololo ceremonial grounds

Here, IAAF cross country technical director Carlos Cardoso (orange shirt) makes a point to Kiwa as other officials listen on during the inspection

It will be the first time an IAAF World Athletics Series event is held in Uganda

KCCA's Jennifer Musisi delivers a speech as commissioner for sports Omara Apitta  looks on at the Uganda Media Centre. Musisi is on the Kampala 2017 local organizing committee (LOC). Charles Bakkabulindi, minister of education and sports is the chairman of the LOC while Dominic Otucet, the president of Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF), is the vice chairman of the LOC

Here, IAAF vice president  and head of inspection team, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, greets Musisi at the Uganda Media Centre

Moments later, Kalkaba  handed over the IAAF  flag to Musisi as UAF president Dominic Otuchet (second from left) looked on

Here, KCCA executive director waves the IAAF flag at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala