NAIROBI, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will not postpone or cancel any of three international sports competitions for fear of exposing its citizens to coronavirus, a government official said on Friday.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed instead assured the world and the competitors coming to Kenya for the three events that everything was on schedule.
The east African sports powerhouse is due to host the Kenya Open golf tournament, as a round of the prestigious European Tour next week in Nairobi.
There is also the World Athletics Continental Tour on May 2 and the World Under-20 Championships on July 7-12. The three events will see a huge number of foreigners entering the country.
"Kenya is in constant conversation with World Athletics and WHO over the coronavirus situation; hence there should be no worries. WHO has assured us the three events will proceed as scheduled," Amina said.
Despite this development, Kenya will however, not clear any national team to travel abroad to any country that has any confirmed positive cases of the Coronavirus.
Already the women's beach volleyball team that was due to play in the Africa Continental Cup in Abuja, Nigeria, a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympic Games, has been denied clearance by the sports ministry.
However, Amina said they will do everything to stage the three aforementioned competitions.
"The athletics Continental Tour on May 2 will act as a dry run for the World under-20 championships. We want to see how prepared we are to host the world in Nairobi," said Mohamed.
The World Under-20 Championships in July will attract over 50 countries. Amina said over 30 countries, including China, Britain, Germany, Spain, Austria and France have confirmed their participation. Germany and Bahrain will also pitch camp in the country prior to the championships to acclimatize and polish their skills.
"We have little work going on at the Athletes' Village, where the competitors will be accommodated at Kenyatta University. Kasarani Stadium will also be closed for renovations prior to hosting the Continental Tour on May 2," said Mohamed.
