Okeyo reaffirms Kenya readiness to host Africa Athletics Championships

The Chief Executive Officer of the Local Organising Committe (LOC) for the 17th African Athletics Championships in Nairobi, David Okeyo has said the country is ready and expects all African countries to be in attendance.

Okeyo also said the LOC will try to appeal to top African stars to show up in Nairobi as there is no excuse because there will be no other event happening around the period (June 28 - August 1) in the world.

He also noted that since Africa will be selecting her team to the IAAF Continental Cup in Split later in the year in Nairobi, those athletes who fail to show up in Nairobi would not be selected to the African team.

Listen to the Interview with Okeyo below:

Meanwhile, the LOC has signed contracts with eight hotels that will host the athletes and officials from over 43 countries that will be taking part in the championship.

Teams taking part in the championship will have their accommodation and transport costs waived by the LOC plus the insurance costs once they land in the country.

LOC chairman Isaiah Kiplagat also dismissed claims that the country was not up to the challenge of hosting an event of such magnitude insisting it would be a success as they had the capacity as witnessed in the successful 2007 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa.