World Cross Country: It's critical

The IAAF World Cross Country Championships has the potential to change the prospects of Ugandan sport for good. 

While there is a general appreciation for sports nationally, real government support is reluctant and often grudging. 

"Sport is classified is a non-funded priority by government," said National Council of Sports general secretary Nicholas Muramagi. 

"That's why only sh3b was given to the NCS this year for all its activities. But that money can do very little for the 52 sports federations we have. In fact, sh2b was spent on the Uganda Cranes during Afcon alone, so the rest is what we are to spend on other sports." 

This reality is down to both the limitation of resources on the part of government and the perception that sport does not contribute as much to the economy as other priorities like roads and electricity. 

This is where the cross country championships could lead to a rethink. The government bid for the championships with the understanding that it would have a discernible boost to the economy in the short and midterm. 

That's why sh5bn will be ultimately spent on what's technically a one-day event. 

The expectation is Uganda will have the last laugh, as Ambrose Atwoko, deputy director social services KCCA told New Vision Sport. 

"It's estimated that during such events, visitors spend an average of $400 per day and that means that if we attract 1, 000 people for four days, it means we will have $1.6m of hard cash invested in the economy," Atwoko revealed. 

This would have a "trickle effect" in the mid to long term that would translate into many more returns. That would be a pretty strong statement on the commercial merits of sport, the kind that could persuade a turnaround in the attitude of the government towards local sport.