“Those of us who were here in 2017 will remember that this was a fantastic championship. Sadly for us this year we don’t have the noisy, passionate and informed fans that Kenyan athletics has always produced but still this will be outstanding championship. Athletics in Kenya is like a religion,” Coe said.
Just like he witnessed at the 2017 World Under-18 Championships, World Athletics boss Seb Coe expects a successful and entertaining World Under-20s in Nairobi, despite the fact that the event will be staged without fans.
The 2017 showpiece was a marvel all over the world due to the atmosphere brought in by the passionate fans who thronged the Kasarani Stadium all through the five day event. Despite that atmosphere missing this time round, the Briton still remains confident Kenya will wow the world again.
“Those of us who were here in 2017 will remember that this was a fantastic championship. Sadly for us this year we don’t have the noisy, passionate and informed fans that Kenyan athletics has always produced but still this will be outstanding championship. Athletics in Kenya is like a religion,” Coe said.
He added; “But we are expecting very entertaining competition because this is the second largest athletics gathering of the year.”
Coe has also paid glowing tribute to the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Ministry of Sports, Local Organizing Committee and Athletics Kenya for working round the clock to deliver the event.
“We have received immense support here in Kenya and I want to thank the President. I was honored to have been in Mombasa to meet him and he is a man very passionate about sports in Kenya,” Coe said.
Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya president Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei also said he expects an intense five day of competitions.
“We are in unprecedented times where we have to do things differently. Of course we will not have fans in the stadium but we are still looking forward to a great event. We want to welcome everyone here and definitely to urge all to compete well and make this a success,” Tuwei said
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