Kasarani to host World U-20 Championships in August 2021

The World Under-20 Championships will take place at the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani from August 17 to 22 next year, World Athletics announced on Thursday.

The event was originally scheduled to be held last month but was postponed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

It now slots in one week after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Athletics Kenya’s Nairobi branch chairman Barnaba Korir wrote on Kenyan publication Daily Nation: “As hosts, it’s totally a different ball game considering the event will take place after the Tokyo Olympic Games. There is no secret that a lot has changed as far as the event is concerned and we will have no choice but to roll our sleeves.

“We have less than a year to do that considering there are other duties to attend to before the event. Of immediate concern of course will be the World Athletics Continental Tour (Wact) scheduled for September 26.”

Though it is a one-day event, it will provide Kenyan organisers with the ideal opportunity to test out their readiness to host a major athletics event said Korir.

“If we get it right this September, next year’s show will be a walk in the park.

We have already been given the parameters to operate within and it’s up to us to make or break.

“The good thing is that we did not stop even when Covid-19 struck and we are very much on course. However, we have to up our game because, with the new Covid-19 protocols, the task ahead seems to be double.”

In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo