Benin to confirm hosting 2012 Africa Athletics Championships

Benin has been given one month ultimatum to confirm if they will host the 2012 senior Africa Athletics Championships.

Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) council meeting made the resolution in Nairobi on Tuesday after the Benin Athletics Federation failed to give its assurance of the government support.

CAA president Hamad Kalkaba Malboum said they are having problems on the assurance of the next host.

CAA had to send Malboum on three occasions to Nairobi to try and convince the government to support the championship.

It is almost a repeat script of what happened to Kenya as CAA engaged the local government in a series of meeting to try and educate them on the need for the country to stage the championship and only received a confirmation about nine months ago.

"You remember how hard it was for Kenya. Now you can see the fruits, all these equipment will remain here to develop new talent. The infrastructure, security and all other logistics put in by the government is laudable and that is why we must get the same backing from Benin before confirming them," said Malboum.

Egypt, Morocco and South Africa have been alerted as the possible plan B should Benin fail to honour the call.

"We are already in talks with countries that have the facilities already. We can only think of a place where they will not need to buy new equipment or make major adjustment," said Malboum.

This comes just hours before the curtain rises to usher in this year' s event which is being staged in Nairobi.

However, that can be forgotten for the time being as fans have marked out in their calendars the next five days, to savour what Africa can provide and hope that the next Pamela Jelimo or Caster Semenya will be born in Nairobi as the championship proper starts.

Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki will lead thousands of fans and foreign athletes and officials in the opening ceremony at the 30,000 sitter Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

"It will be a great challenge for the fans to fill to capacity the stadium and create the championship mood that we at the Local organising committee have been craving for," said David Okeyo, the championship Chief Executive.

Kenya edged out Benin 10-9 votes in Dakar, Senegal during the Confederation of Africa Athletics council meeting in 2007 to secure the rights to stage the championship that starts Wednesday in Nairobi.

Over 800 athletes have converged in Nairobi for the track and field championship in which the best two will secure tickets to the World Cup in Athletics set for Split City in Croatia in September.

"I was in the last World Cup and will very much like to be in Croatia again," said Janeth Jepkosgei, the women world and Olympic 800m silver medallist.

Source: Xinhua