THIS IS HOW IT IS DONE: IAAF begins training World Youth officials

Vivian Gungaraun senior vice president of Africa Athletics Federation (CAAA) and Senior lecturer for IAAF during conducts level two coaurse at Sports View Hotel Photo/Mohammed Amin/www.sports-pot.com

World athletics body has begun training technical officials ahead of the World U-18 Championships slated for Nairobi on July 12-16.

The training sessions are being held at the IAAF Regional Centre at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, under the guidance of Confederation of Africa Athletics Association (CAA) Vice President Vivian Gungaram, who is also in charge of Competitions and Technical logistics.

The first batch of 30 officials, who commenced their training on February 27, graduated from the centre at the weekend.

"We are targeting to train a total of 200 officials, who will help us manage logistics and technical issues during the forthcoming championships," said Gungaram.

The championships Local Organising Committee Technical Director Ibrahim Hussein said the second batch of officials to be trained will report at the venue on March 19.

"Apart from working on technical issues, the trained officials will help with other various roles, during the championships," said Hussein.

Hussein, who is also the IAAF Regional Director, added that the IAAF training will ensure Kenya gets adequate technical personnel to efficiently handle the championships.

Athletics Kenya (AK) are providing them with names of officials to undergo the training.

"We sent an invite to AK, who in turn, selected the officials drawn from their affiliates. The selection was not done by the regional centre. Our obligation is to conduct training under the auspices of IAAF," said Hussein.

The technical officials trained in the first batch of 30 members included 2016 IAAF Diamond League series Ferguson Rotich's coach, Japheth Kemei, 1982 Africa 100m champion Alice Adala and 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games Kenya's team manager, Richard Lebo. AK Universities and Colleges branch secretary general, Edward Muema, was also among the graduands.

AK Chief Executive Officer Susan Kamau, who graced the graduation ceremony, said the World U-18 Championships was important as it will give Kenya an opportunity to have qualified technical personnel.

"Even after the world championships, we shall continue to make use of their expertise, to improve the officiating standards. Our athletes, who mostly compete internationally, will benefit from the training since they will be handled by technical officials, who enjoy international repute," said Kamau.