Tough Covid-19 protocols for Kenya’s U20
By Amos Abuga, June 30, 2021
Strict safety protocols will be applied during the World Athletics Under-20 trials that begins on Thursday with organisers saying athletes will be tested daily for Covid-19 as part of coronavirus countermeasures.
This is even as the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, the venue for the global event set for August 17-22 will for the second time in under two week be used for a total system test during the event set for Thursday- Saturday.
World Under-20 Local Organising Committee CEO Mike Rabar in a media briefing at Riadha House yesterday said all the directorates will be put to test, less than 50 days to the global junior event.
Rabar emphasised on accreditation, transport, safety and testing as well as protocol departments which will be under scrutiny at the three-day event.
“We have had a consultative meeting with Athletics Kenya. The purpose is to prove that we are more than capable of organising events.
We have had difficulties with accreditation in the past and therefore we want to ensure we get it done this time.
One of the areas we are keen to monitor is on the entry to the stadium and how we will manage movement in and out of the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani,” he added while confirming that over 1,400 athletes from over 128 nations will grace the event in August.
“We have to ensure there are proper means of transport for athletes to enter the stadium for competition and also for training,” said Rabar while insisting that the LOC has already mapped the zones and the seats arrangement for the fans if they will be allowed to the stadium by the government.
On safety, Rabar said the 494 athletes who will be coming to the trials will be tested for Covid-19 so will be coaches, support staff as well as members of the press.
He also explained why the LOC has decided to do away with Athletes Village at Kenya University as well as having a controlled volunteers programme.
“On advisory from world Athletics, we have decided to have the athletes in a small bubbles as opposed to one village. Here it will be easier to isolate an individual in case a positive case is detected.
Athletics Kenya’s Director of Youth Development, Barnaba Korir, said working with the LOC will be an important aspect as the country assesses preparedness achieved so far as the global event is drawing closer.
He warned athletes of dire consequences if found guilty of age cheating while also explaining the procedure for selection.
“This is a junior event so the first two across the line will be selected, no wild card. We shall be fielding athletes in 22 events plus the mixed relay,” said Korir.
Korir said the athletes will have to produce documents like birth certificate, passports or baptism certificate before being allowed to compete at the trials.