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All african nations confirm participation for athleticschampionships by ferujkll sdff
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All african nations confirm participation for athleticschampionships |
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There will be a full house in PortoNova, when the continent meets for the 18 edition of the SeniorAfrica Athletics Championships starting from June 26 to July 1. Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) vice president David Okeyosaid in Nairobi on Tuesday that 53 countries have confirmedparticipation for the championships, which will be the lastopportunity for African athletes eyeing Olympic qualification tohit their mark. "It is a positive response. We had 49countries participating inNairobi in 2010, but in Benin, the number will be bigger. We wantthis event to grow and with the chance to compete at the Olympics,many athletes still looking for that time have the chance to do soin this event," Okeyo told journalists in Nairobi.
He said the deadline for submission of entries to the championshipsended last Friday with 53 countries having shown interest. However, Kenya though it confirmed participation, it did not submitits entry list as it will be holding its trials later. "Kenya was given a special consideration, because we requested formore time to be able to finish our trials. We will send in ourentry by June 18," Okeyo said.
The Kenyan trials are set for June 16 in Nairobi. However, thetrials to select the Olympic team will be done a week later. Okeyo said the East African nation intends to enter 50 athletes inevents from 200 meters to 10,000 meters including severalappearances in field events. However, South Sudan will not be among the countries to compete inBenin.
"South Sudan will have to present its bid to join the athleticsfamily to the IAAF council. The council will then forward theirrequest for endorsement at the Congress,which will ratify it andmake it a full member. For now, their athletes will have to competeunder the Sudan flag," said Okeyo. Okeyo, who is also Athletics Kenya Secretary General, said Kenyawill be entering a strong team in the 4x400m relay team in PortoNova to fend off any threat to its ranking in the world.
Though Kenya has qualified for the Olympics as the eighth bestranked country in the top 16, it may fall down the pecking ifchallengers from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Mauritius postbetter time in Porto Nova. "The IAAF is clear on relay qualification. It is done atcontinental level and we must protect our turf in Benin to retainour slot for the Olympics in London," said Okeyo. Benin government is pumping in over 5 million U.S.
dollars with theremainder of the 7.5 million dollars budget expected to come fromthe sponsors and IAAF to stage the championships successfully. However, there is a likelihood that elite athletes from Africa willmiss out as countries might send in a second-string side as theyput their focus on the Olympic Games, which will be coming in amonth later in London. "I have been seeking assurance from other presidents of athleticsin respective countries to convince them to bring their best toPorto Nova. We need to develop this championships as an Africanevent and if countries decide to field second string runners, thenwe will be watering down the level of competition.
"Moreover, the championships will provide the final opportunity forthe athletes who are yet to secure the Olympic qualification anopportunity to make it to London. So I believe it will be one ofthe hardest in the history of the championships," said Okeyo. I am a professional writer from Blank Disks, which contains a great deal of information about mens silver pendants , pear shape diamonds, welcome to visit!
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