The Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with International School Sport Federation (ISF) and Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA).
The MoU was signed by the President of Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), Kipchumba Maiyo, and the President of ISF, Laurent Petrynka at the Ministry of Education headquarters at Jogoo House.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Ezekiel Machogu and the Principal Secretary for Basic education, Dr. Belio Kipsang.
Machogu hailed the decision by ISF to let Kenya host the event that will see learners between ages 12 and 18 from over 134 countries take part in the Cross-Country championships in the Race Course area.
He said Kenya’s education reform had anchored sports in the curriculum providing options for talented young people to nurture it to their fullest possible extent and make a career out of it.
The CS pledged government support for the event, saying the entire government and the peoples of Kenya will support it.
Petrynka said the ISF championship was very important as it provided an education through sports and student athletics.
“It aims to promote school sport in all its forms as an educational tool for the physical, intellectual, moral, social and cultural development of students,” he stated.
Additionally, Petrynka lauded the Kenyan authorities for assuring safety and security of the athletes.
He said Kenya had ample hospitality facilities and an international reputation for hosting high level events.
Petrynka further noted that the last of ISF Cross Country championships was held in Slovakia.
Maiyo said the sports helped young people ventilate energies, creating discipline of mind and body that enabled them to stay away from social evils.
Also in attendance included the President of Athletics Kenya, Lt (Rtd) General Jackson Tuwei, Director, Field Coordination and Co-Curricular Activities, Hassan Duale, the Presidents of Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Associations (FEASSSA), Uganda, Justus Mugisha, Rwanda, Luke Karemangingo and Tanzania, Dennis Otieno and senior officials of KSSSA.
Notably, the first official ISF championships were in football and volleyball, which both took place in 1972, athletics, basketball, handball and skiing championships followed a year later.
By our reporter
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