This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
The Africa Deaf Athletics Championships, a historic event, kicked off on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Nairobi.
Organized by the Deaf Athletics Association of Kenya in partnership with the Kenya Sports Federation of the Deaf, the championships brought together athletes from ten countries, including Ethiopia, Mauritania, Algeria, Uganda, Zanzibar, Mozambique, and Botswana.
Day one of the event featured 16 races, including the men's and women's 10,000 meters finals and 1,500 meters finals, as well as the men's discus and women's long jump finals.
According to Bernard Banja, the Kenya Deaf Athletics Secretary General, the event aimed to provide opportunities for new athletes to represent their countries in future international competitions, including the World Deaf Athletics Championships and the Deaf Olympic Games.
Kenya, which has previously participated in the 22nd Deaf Olympic Games held in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2013, was expected to perform well in the championships.
"We are happy to host this first-ever Africa Deaf Athletes Championships. We have trust in our athletes to give us victory because they have been working hard in training both as individuals and as a team," said Banja.
