Eastern Africa U18/U20 Championships postponed due to Ebola outbreak

Athletes in action during the WU20 trials at Nyayo National Stadium/HANDOUT

The Eastern Africa U18/U20 Athletics Championships, which were scheduled for this weekend in Arusha, Tanzania, have been postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Athletics Kenya (AK) Youth Development Committee Secretary Joseph Ilovi said the decision was reached after consultations involving AK President Jack Tuwei and other regional athletics officials.

The championships had been scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Arusha Stadium and were expected to attract athletes from across the region.

“New dates will be announced once the Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the DR Congo is contained,” said Ilovi. The outbreak, which was first reported in eastern DR Congo, has spread across parts of the region, prompting sporting bodies and governments to take precautionary measures.

Ilovi said athletes who had been scheduled to travel to Tanzania have already been informed of the postponement. “We have asked them to step up their training in their respective schools and camps as we continue monitoring the situation in the region. It’s unfortunate and beyond our control,” added Ilovi, who was set to lead the Kenyan team.

He noted that Emmanuel Lemiso, Collins Tendera and Nancy Kibet, who were expected to use the regional championships as part of their build-up for the World Under-20 Championships, will now join the national training camp in Nairobi on July 5.

“The trio was to use the Eastern Africa Championships as part of their preparations for the World Under-20 Championships. They will now join their counterparts in Nairobi next month,” he said.

Kenya had named a strong team of 20 athletes following the World Under-20 Championships trials held at Nyayo National Stadium two weeks ago.

Athletes from Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti were also expected to participate in the annual competition. Kenya were set to defend the overall title they won in Zanzibar last year.