HISTORY! LET’S MAKE HISTORY
The much awaited IAAF world Under 18 Athletics are finally here. For the first time ever in Kenya! Being the last edition of its kind it was found befitting for Kenya, the specialists in long and middle distance races, to host this auspicious event. This gives me great hope that one day Kenya will host the winter Olympics (but I won’t hold my breath)
Truth be told, as a peculiar Kenyan that I am, I thought that this event wouldn’t take off at all. This is majorly due to the fact that the organization was being led by Government Agencies (We all know the track record of African governments and the massive corruption involved in mega projects). With bated breath, I watched sports news just to catch up with the progress of organizing. “There have been delays here and there” media stations would report and this fuelled my skepticism even more. But contrary to my expectation, and other skeptics, The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) came through at the eleventh hour.
During our Saturday basketball meet at Kenyatta University, I met athletes from other countries practicing, going about their routines for their final preps before the games begin. A sense of pride filled my soul not just because am an alumni of KU, but also as a Kenyan citizen. Over 129 Countries were joining this beautiful nation in a global sporting event! I told my friends, but mostly me, that I must be a part of this global event.
I feel that this is my chance to be part of history! They say that history repeats itself, but I don’t want to be in the second coming/ happening of history. I wanna make history, the original history. I wanna go cheer my countrymen till my voice becomes hoarse, I wanna go take selfies that I will hopefully one day proudly show to my grandchildren and tell them…”I was there (live live) when it happened” I want to go there sing my National Anthem in the highest voice ever. I want to tweet those moments when Kenya hosted 129 countries in my neighbourhood (arguably Githurai). Most importantly I want to show the world that Kenya can. That Africa has come of age. I want my fellow countrymen to appreciate the little things that bring us together. I want Kenyans to temporarily forget about Jubilee or NASA so that the political temperatures quell a bit. I want Kenyans to turn out in large numbers and #JazaStadi. (Entry is free!) So let’s get off our couches and enjoy the weather outside. I want to walk to the office the next morning to find people talk about how our young men and ladies made the world bow at our feet in our home country. I WANT US TO BE ONE
The much awaited IAAF world Under 18 Athletics are finally here. For the first time ever in Kenya! Being the last edition of its kind it was found befitting for Kenya, the specialists in long and middle distance races, to host this auspicious event. This gives me great hope that one day Kenya will host the winter Olympics (but I won’t hold my breath)
Truth be told, as a peculiar Kenyan that I am, I thought that this event wouldn’t take off at all. This is majorly due to the fact that the organization was being led by Government Agencies (We all know the track record of African governments and the massive corruption involved in mega projects). With bated breath, I watched sports news just to catch up with the progress of organizing. “There have been delays here and there” media stations would report and this fuelled my skepticism even more. But contrary to my expectation, and other skeptics, The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) came through at the eleventh hour.
During our Saturday basketball meet at Kenyatta University, I met athletes from other countries practicing, going about their routines for their final preps before the games begin. A sense of pride filled my soul not just because am an alumni of KU, but also as a Kenyan citizen. Over 129 Countries were joining this beautiful nation in a global sporting event! I told my friends, but mostly me, that I must be a part of this global event.
I feel that this is my chance to be part of history! They say that history repeats itself, but I don’t want to be in the second coming/ happening of history. I wanna make history, the original history. I wanna go cheer my countrymen till my voice becomes hoarse, I wanna go take selfies that I will hopefully one day proudly show to my grandchildren and tell them…”I was there (live live) when it happened” I want to go there sing my National Anthem in the highest voice ever. I want to tweet those moments when Kenya hosted 129 countries in my neighbourhood (arguably Githurai). Most importantly I want to show the world that Kenya can. That Africa has come of age. I want my fellow countrymen to appreciate the little things that bring us together. I want Kenyans to temporarily forget about Jubilee or NASA so that the political temperatures quell a bit. I want Kenyans to turn out in large numbers and #JazaStadi. (Entry is free!) So let’s get off our couches and enjoy the weather outside. I want to walk to the office the next morning to find people talk about how our young men and ladies made the world bow at our feet in our home country. I WANT US TO BE ONE
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