Impossible Games: Team Cheruiyot ready to light up Nyayo tonight

Nairobi and Oslo, Norway will host the first track and field virtual race tonight. 

This creative race dubbed ‘Impossible Games’ will the first competition of track and field this season having replaced Oslo Diamond League which was cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic. 

The meeting featuring 13 other events will see Kenya’s Team Cheruiyot, consisting of world 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot, 2017 world champion over the distance Elijah Manangoi, 2012 world 1500m junior silver medalist Edwin Melly, Timothy Sein and Africa Junior 1,500 champion Vincent Keter clashing with Norway’s Ingebrigtsens brothers, Henrik, Filip and Jakob in a 2,000m race.

“We have prepared well and hope to replicate what we have done in training with my teammates in competition.

“We are all new to the virtual race idea and we appreciate the organisers for that. I know fans are hungry for live sport and we are glad to offer them entertainment. But it’s unfortunate distancing rules made it impossible to have any spectators in the stadium. But Impossible Games is purely made for TV so the fans will enjoy it,” Cheruiyot said. 

Meet director Steinar Hoen said it has not been possible to have international participation from around the world like fans are used to.

“But with some creativity we have created a unique match between Team Ingebrigtsen and Team Cheruiyot through international cooperation, involving Athletics Kenya, Omega and our host broadcaster NRK,” Hoen said.

He explained why they launched the idea after Covid-19 pandemic hit the world.

“We had two options. We could resign or look at the possibilities. We decided to build this unique creative concept that could be staged on the same day as the traditional meeting was scheduled. This will be the first virtual race at such level in the history of athletics.”

Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei thanked Oslo Diamond League organisers for involving Kenya in the concept.

“Athletics Kenya is fully supportive of this creative idea from the Oslo Diamond League. Serious racing within a safe environment while also serving as entertainment for avid athletics fans the world over is to be welcomed,” Tuwei said.

The European 2,000m record holder Steve Cram will commentate the Impossible Games.

Cram’s record stands at 4:51.39 which Ingebrigtsen brothers will attempt to break tonight. 

The race will also be in memory of Australian agent legendary Maurie Plant, who passed away in January this year. 

The one day Impossible Games event will be staged in Kenya, Norway and France, where Frenchman high jumper Renaud Lavillenie will take on Norwegians Mondo Duplantis from his home garden.