NAIROBI, Feb. 7-- Kenya will use the World Athletics Continental Tour in May as a dry run to gauge their preparedness for hosting the World Under-20 Championships in July. Nairobi will host the first round of the newly inaugurated Continental Tour on May 2, one month before the World Under-20 Championships. Amina Mohamed, the sports cabinet secretary said on Thursday that Kasarani stadium in Nairobi, which is being renovated, will have the best chance to test its track tartan. "Organization plans are going on well. The steering committee meets every Monday to review the progress and I believe we are on track," Mohamed told journalists in Nairobi. Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jack Tuwei added that hosting the Continental Tour, which will offer 20 million shillings (200,000 U.S. dollars) prize purse, will give Nairobi the best rehearsal for hosting the World Athletics junior championships, which will have over 80 countries bringing in their best young talent. "We are happy World Athletics is offering Nairobi the first test with the Continental Tour. This is the first time such competition is being held and Nairobi will be under scrutiny. We need to pass this test because there are 10 countries from Kenya to China, Poland and Germany. We were considered especially against a number of countries who are very developed," Tuwei said. Mohamed noted that the government led by President Uhuru Kenyatta will spare nothing as they seek to have the best two international championships in Nairobi. |