Athletics Kenya has been nominated for the Member Federation Award 2020 by the World Athletics.
This year’s award is to recognise a federation that has managed to deliver an uplifting athletics event, development event or other athletics achievement, in spite of the health and safety challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We all know the difficulties that sport has faced during the pandemic but many of our Member Federations have risen to that challenge brilliantly and we wanted to acknowledge some of the exceptional work they have done to ensure that our sport continues to thrive in these very testing times,’’ World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said. “The commitment and creativity shown by our Member Federations demonstrates exactly why we are the world’s most global sport and I applaud their efforts.”
According to World Athletics, each Area Association was asked to nominate two Member Federations. A vote by the World Athletics Executive Board selected the six finalists, one from each Area Association.
AK was nominated after its efforts to better the game despite the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which led to a hiatus in sporting activities as well as nationwide lockdowns and other disruptions.
Despite these major constraints, Athletics Kenya succeeded in organising and staging the Kip Keino Classic, the first World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Africa.
Kenyan athletes also competed well internationally, sweeping the team titles at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Gdynia 2020 with women’s winner, Peres Jepchirchir, breaking the women-only race world record.
Athletics Kenya (Confederation of African Athletics) will now battle it out against Athletics New Zealand (Oceania Athletics Association), Nicaraguan Athletics Federation (North American, Central American & Caribbean Athletics Association), Palestine Athletic Federation (Asian Athletics Association), Peruvian Athletics Federation (Confederation of South American Athletics), and Polish Athletics Association (European Athletics).
The winner will be announced at the World Athletics Awards 2020 to be held virtually on Saturday 5 December and streamed live on the World Athletics YouTube channel, its Facebook channel and Twitter.