No funds guarantee: Athletics Kenya confirms World Youth bid faces financial hurdle

Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat. Kenya's bid to host the 2017 World Youth Championships has not secured Government financial guarantee. [PHOTO: DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Kenya’s 2017 World Youth Championships bid is in jeopardy after its officials failed to get financial gurantee from the Government.

This was revealed yesterday by Athletics Kenya in a statement sent to the press.

However, both Bid Committee Chairman Jack Tuwei and AK CEO Isaac Mwangi declined to be quoted on the subject.

The statement, however, said AK has up to October 31 to secure financial guarantees from the government if their bid to host the 2017 World Youth Championships is to be considered.

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Lamine Diack had written to the country’s affiliate demanding the submission of the Event Organization Agreement (EOA) as well as the financial guarantees from the Government.

Kenya’s First Lady Margaret Kenyatta is the Bid Committee Patron.

“The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has confirmed receipt of Kenyais intent to host the IAAF World Youth Championships in 2017. Kenya was able to meet the submission deadline for the bid on 25th September 2014, which marked the second stage of the bidding process for the world event.

“Kenya did not however, meet the deadline for the submission of the Event Organization Agreement (EOA) as well as the financial guarantees from the Government. This is a requirement and may jeopardise the country’s position, as they are in competition with other countries,” said a statement sent from Athletics Kenya CEO’s office.

“Upon request from Athletics Kenya, the IAAF has given country the final deadline for submission of the EOA and the financial guarantees of October 31, 2014.

“Should Kenya meet this deadline then they will be invited to make the final presentation and defence of the bid, which will take place on November 18th at the IAAF headquarters in Monaco,” said the statement.

Kenya face a stiff challenge from the Western countries with USA and Argentina also throwing in their hat bidding for the hosting rights.

Kenya has consistently taken part in the championships since its introduction in 1999 in Bydgoszcz, Poland and will hope its strong show on the track will favour them ahead of the inspection by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

However, the small matter of altitude, with Nairobi sitting about 5500 metres above sea level, remains a concern. The same applies for Buenos Aires.

Already Kenya has bid and successfully hosted the 2007 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa and the 2010 Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Nairobi.

IAAF said the bid paper from Kenya had information regarding areas like transport for both local and international, training and competition facilities, hotels, visas among other technical requirements, which show the readiness of the City of Nairobi to host the event.

The World Youth Championships is eligible for athletes aged 16 and 17 years.

In June, AK President Isaiah Kiplagat said: “I have discussed with President Uhuru Kenyatta about us hosting the event and he is very positive about it.”

IAAF also confirmed that its premier event, the World Championships is still the most sort after. With the hosts of the 2015 and 2017 editions already decided, the IAAF invited candidates for the 17th edition of the event, which will take place in 2019.

The candidates for the 2019 World Championships are Doha (Qatar), Barcelona (Spain) and Eugene (USA).