IAAF world meet: Kampala roads to close

Jan 04, 2017

Over 700 athletes from over 70 countries are expected to brace the biennial event.

KAMPALA - The Uganda People's Defence Force engineering brigade has increased manpower to ensure that the IAAF World Cross Country Championships Kampala 2017 course is ready for the test event.

The brigade has also assured the local organising committee that the grass that will be planted on the tarmac will be guarded "jealously", including limiting access to some roads.

They agreed with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to limit movement at the Kololo Independence Grounds, which will involve closing some of the roads where the cross country route will be intersecting as early as next week to preserve the course.

 

The  project coordinator,  Kazibwe Mbaziira,  told a team that  was led by commissioner for sports Omara Apitta, members of the LOC and  the ministry of defence that  they  have already  made the requirement, giving a two-way access that will not tamper with the different developments that  have been done most especially on the tarmac, which has to be greened  and prepared so that  it is ready  by March.

"We are not taking any chances and we will have all the manpower that has been working on the different sections of the course to work on the tarmac so that we are able to complete in time," said Kazibwe.

"Because of the nature of the works, we have decided to protect it jealously so that no vehicle passes on it."

 

The works team have been given the contract to develop the course, including removing all the depressions and alien objects and also green it for both the January 14 national event, which will act as a test event, and the March 26 world event.

Over 700 athletes from over 70 countries are expected to brace the biennial event, which has a sh1b prize package.          

South Africa, Canada, Australia and Tajikistan are among the countries that have already confirmed participation to the event, which will be held in Africa for the third time.

 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});