IAAF (13/11/2005)

Kenya has been awarded the right to host the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombassa.

The East African country, the most successful nation in the history of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, got the nod to host the 35th edition of the competition for the first time after a vibrant audio-visual presentation at the IAAF Council Meeting in Moscow.

IAAF President Lamine Diack, said: "We believe that your country deserves to organise the World Cross and are happy to give you the opportunity now following your very impressive and professional presentation.

"The IAAF looks forward to working closely with our Kenyan counterparts to organise a great edition of this event in 2007."

A large delegation of 14, headed by the Hon. Ochillo Ayack MP, gave an indication of the strong desire and excitement of the entire Kenyan nation to win the right to organise this event.

As well as notable politicians and Kenyan sport officials including the legendary Kip Keino, two other famous Kenyan athletes: Paul Tergat and Catherine Ndereba made the trip from East Africa to Moscow to present their case to the IAAF Council.

Tergat, who is patron of the IAAF’s Humanitarian Project “Athletics for a Better World,” won the New York Marathon earlier this month.

Tergat says: "I won the world title five times, as did my colleague John Ngugi, and if we look at the statistics over the years, I doubt Kenya’s record in this competition can ever be matched.

" Although I have been fortunate to win many races in my career, I am delighted that we have won the right to host the World Cross for the first time.

"Like 33 million of my countrymen, I can now celebrate that the World Cross has come back home.”

The Mayor of Mombasa, the second largest city in Kenya, Taib Ali Taib, said that he was eagerly awaiting the IAAF Council’s decision as the nation is united in support.

"For so many years, our country has been in love with cross country and has celebrated the achievements of so many Kenyan champions in this discipline," he said.