Lasting Legacy
Sunday 16th July marked the final day of the tenth of the IAAF World U18 Nairobi 2017 championships. Held every two years since 1999, this event was the premier athletics event for the world’s athletics champions in waiting. It has been the pipeline of hope and talent for youngsters looking to test and showcase their talent and tenacity in their chosen sports – running, high, long and triple jump, javelin, discus and hammer throws and the gruelling heptathlon and decathlon events. As the U18 Championships have been phased out by the IAAF, for the first and last time, this landmark event was held in Sub Saharan Africa, and Kenya was the proud host.
Never has an U18 championship been so well attended. Over the last two days, the Moi International Sports Stadium was filled to capacity with 65,000 cheering fans providing an electric atmosphere to the games. At the first games in Poland in 1999 and at the sixth games in Italy ten years later Kenya topped the medal standings. While we may not have garnered the most gold medals this time, we beat over 150 other countries in terms of total medals won, with 15 medals kept home by our young athletes, and the strains of our national anthem heard four times at the Kasarani venue.
As part of the preparation for the games the 2500 young athletes of the games were hosted in newly refurbished hostels at Kenyatta University, a gift that KU students will no doubt appreciate long into the future. In turn, the Kasarani stadium originally built for the 1987 All Africa Games received a multimillion shilling investment to ensure it shines as a premier world class stadium fit for the 21st century. Our athletes will now have the benefit of being able to train and prepare for their international meets at home in style.
Asanteni to the 850 volunteers and Sports Officials that kept the games going over the past five days, the security teams whose vigilant efforts made sure it was a safe experience for all our visitors and the Local Organising Committee who worked tirelessly to make sure we shine. You make us proud!
Hongera Team Kenya