The world youth competition, the first and largest track and field event Kenya has hosted since the 1987 African Games, has attracted 801 athletes drawn from 131 countries, including the hosts. This will be the second time Africa is hosting a world track and field event since the 2005 World Under-18 Championship in Marrakech, Morocco even though Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Morocco have hosted the World Cross Country Championships. A lot has been invested in the championships since Kenya won the bid in 2014 what with the government pumping in Sh2.5 billion towards hosting the event. The idea of coming up with an Athletes’ Village at Kenyatta University has won accolades from IAAF President Sebastian Coe. “We welcome the world to the home of athletics and athletics heroes and heroines,” said Local Organising Committee chairman Jackson Tuwei, who is also the Athletics Kenya President.

Source: Daily Nation July 11, 2017 17:03 UTC