• World Athletics said the shortlisted federations were nominated by each of the six area associations.
• WA commended Athletics Kenya for being the first member federation to sign the Climate Action Framework, underscoring the governing body's position at the forefront of climate action in Kenya.
Image: CHARLEEN MALWA
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has praised Athletics Kenya (AK) for making it to the final list for the World Athletics Award.
Kenya was among the six finalists announced by the world athletics governing body on Saturday. Others are Brazil, Spain, Jamaica, Korea, and Guam.
“Congratulations Athletics Kenya for nomination by World Athletics among six finalists for Member Federation Award,” Namwamba said.
“AK has led the world in signing the Sport for Climate Action Framework, hosts the only Continental Tour in Africa, and topped in medals at the African championships.”
The affiliate federation award honours a national governing body that has gone above and beyond to serve its athletes, fans, and the greater community.
World Athletics said the shortlisted federations were nominated by each of the six area associations. The winner will be announced on World Athletics’ social media platforms in early December, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2022.
WA commended Athletics Kenya for being the first member federation to sign the Climate Action Framework, underscoring the governing body's position at the forefront of climate action in Kenya.
“Since August 2021, when it signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Athletics Kenya has installed four air quality sensors in the Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi National Park, and Nakuru Athletics Club, with more to come,” WA said.
“As well as staging the only Continental Tour Gold meeting in Africa, Kenya also hosted a media development program for the African region in 2022.”
At the elite end of the sport, Kenya topped the medals table at the African Championships, winning 10 gold medals, five silver, and eight bronze.
“Eliud Kipchoge also lowered his marathon world record, while Faith Kipyegon and Emmanuel Korir added world titles to the Olympic gold medals they won last year.”
The double Olympic champion also made the list of five finalists for the 2022 World Athlete of the Year Award. In a statement last week, World Athletics confirmed that the 37-year-old Kenyan athlete had joined four other world champions shortlisted from a group of 10 participants who had been selected to compete for the award.
“The five athletes, who represent five countries from three area associations, have achieved sensational performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2022, at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, one-day meeting circuits, and other events around the world,” said a statement from World Athletics.
Kipchoge will face world champions —Swede Mondo Duplantis (pole vault), who won the 2020 World Athlete of the Year Award, Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali (3,000m hurdles), Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen (5,000m) and Noah Lyles (200m ) from the United States of America.
World Athletica said a three-way voting process determined the finalists. “The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family cast their votes by email, while fans logged their decisions online via the World Athletics social media platforms where a record 1.3 million votes were registered,” World Athletics said.
“The World Athletics Council’s vote counted for 50 percent of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes each counted for 25 percent of the final result.”
Voting closed on 31 October.