英语文摘：African athletics body says Kenya will host major event in 2011

NAIROBI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nairobi will hold one of the Africa Golden Series meeting from next year once they secure sponsorship, Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) President Hamad Malboum Kalkaba announced.

This is after the city organised a successful Africa Senior Athletics Championship that ended on Sunday.

With over 600 athletes competing in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital returned a positive mark on organisation and standard of equipment that has jilted CAA to include it in its golden series.

"We already have Dakar and Rabat as some of the top African one day meeting. I believe Nairobi and one in South Africa can be added on this list so that we can have a full circuit," said Kalkaba on Monday.

Khartoum, Brazzaville and Mauritius are the other cities that the Africa Golden series is held.

Isaiah Kiplagat, the Athletics Kenya chairman, however sought to clarify saying that it was lack of funds that has derailed Nairobi being upgraded to the Africa golden series following the withdrawal of East Africa Breweries from funding the Tusker Athletics Meet.

"We have not staged the race for the last two years because of funds. But with the success this championship has returned, hopefully we will be back from next year," said Kiplagat.

Kalkaba, confirmed he has already spoken with both Kenyan president Mwai KIbaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and athletics officials in helping revive the meeting, which he said will go well with the success the country has had in track and field competition.

Kiplagat also confirmed that Kenya has been spurred by the great turnout of fans to embrace the championship and will seek the government approval before seeking to bid to host the 2014/2016 World Junior Championship or the World Youth Championship.

"These are events that do not require a lot of logistics. Kenya after this success can look up and seek IAAF approval to stage such competitions. But the world Championship for the elite athletes is still far away," said Kiplagat.

High altitude, lack of enough bed capacity, poor infrastructure was cited as some of the areas that hinder Kenya's bid for the World Championship.

But Kiplagat, who is a council member of the IAAF, said with good planning and collaboration, Kenya would easily qualify.