This archive report was first published on 7 October 2019.
On October 5, 2019, the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha hosted the men’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships, where dozens of African running fans lined the seafront to cheer on their countrymen.
At the halfway point, all six leaders were from Africa, with Ethiopians taking the top two spots, and Kenya’s Amos Kipruto securing bronze. The midnight event drew a lively crowd, with fans singing and brandishing national flags.
For many migrant workers in Qatar, the championships were an opportunity to support their native countries. Kenya’s Amos Kipruto credited his countrymen with giving him morale, saying, “They gave me morale.”
Kenya’s large expatriate community in Qatar, numbering around 30,000, was well-represented at the event. Many Kenyans were among those who received free tickets from their embassy in Doha, following dismal crowds in the championships’ opening days.
Despite the late start times, often after 10:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) for finals, many African supporters were able to attend. However, some diaspora members felt that the timing had prevented others from attending, with Wilson Mwenji, a former runner from Nairobi resident in Doha for four years, saying, “They put it at night and guys are working. At night time I don’t think they made it. A few people (did), but not too much.”
Overall, the championships had been “very well organised,” according to Mercy, a Kenyan living in Qatar, who praised the security and the fact that the event was held in the city.
