Africa federations council meeting due for Nairobi next week

The Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) Council Meeting will be held in Nairobi on July 26 and 27 where ranging issues concerning the sport in Africa will be on agenda.

Top matters to be deliberated and ratified at the meeting include the set-up of continental cross-country championships, the hosts of Africa Athletics Championships (AAC) after Benin 2012 and review of CAA activities including the continental athletics governing body's budget.

"IAAF has pushed back to continents the organisation of some events notably the World Cross Country Championships that will be bi-annual from next year. During the meeting, bids for the first Africa Cross Country Championships will be tabled and heard as well as those of AAC after Benin," Isaiah Kiplagat, chair of Nairobi 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) said yesterday.

He added readiness of Benin to host the 2012 AAC would be assessed at the gathering in addition to development of the sport across Africa. The Council Meeting then usher in the official opening of Nairobi 2010 AAC where Kiplagat announced the official anthem would be out shortly.

"We expect to get the winning song by this evening (Friday) that will be unveiled together with the winner who shall receive our prize. We will then start using it on Monday," Kiplagat disclosed.

Yesterday, LOC top officials toured Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to review arrangements in place to receive visiting teams and delegations. They inspected immigration and visa clearance booths specifically set aside for Nairobi 2010 as well as pick up arrangements to hotels purpose set for the continental event.

"Kenya Airports Authority will be in charge of how they are branded and manned," Kiplagat explained.

Meanwhile, only gold and silver medallists will be selected to compete for Africa during September's IAAF Intercontinental Cup (formerly World Cup) at Nairobi 2010.