Nairobi County has won a lucrative deal after it was awarded rights to host the 2020 IAAF World Athletics U20 championships.
While making the announcement in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the IAAF Council noted that the World U18 Championship that was held in Nairobi last year was largely successful.
“By hosting an outstanding final edition of the IAAF World U18 Championship last year, Nairobi demonstrated its readiness to take the next step as a Championship host,” said the IAAF on its official website.
Sebastian Coe, the IAAF President noted that the Government of Kenya has strongly lobbied for the Nairobi bid and therefore would be an appropriate host for the championships.
"The U20 Championships showcases the future of our sport so Kenya, with a young and enthusiastic population and such a rich history in athletics, is a perfect fit for us," Coe said.
"We hope that awarding these championships will further encourage the development of athletics in Kenya and all over Africa, which is such a vibrant part of our international federation," he added.
President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed his joy on Twitter after the announcement was made.“I am delighted that @iaaforg has selected Nairobi to host the 2020 U20 @IAAFWorldChamps. This is a vote of confidence in our ability to deliver on a massive global event and recognition of our status as a powerhouse in athletics. We set the bar with the U18s. ASANTE SANA!” President Kenyatta tweeted.