This archive report was first published on 21 October 2019.
On its 23rd anniversary, the Safari Sevens rugby tournament was expected to be a well-organized event. However, the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) failed to deliver, particularly in terms of media access and facilities.
Despite hosting top teams from around the world, including South Africa, Spain, and Zimbabwe, the KRU neglected to set up a press centre, leaving journalists to queue for long periods before being allowed in.
As the event celebrated its 23rd year, one would have expected the organizers to be on top of their game. Unfortunately, the media were an afterthought, only remembered when the officials received sponsorship from several companies.
Such a high-profile event should have prioritized media access, providing a working press centre to serve local and international journalists. It would not have been a significant expense, given the union's good partnerships.
This is not an isolated incident. Other sports federations hosting major events have also been guilty of neglecting media access.
They can learn from major world championships that make media centres a top priority. For instance, when Kenya hosted the World Under-18 athletics championships in 2017, the IAAF insisted on a media centre being set up to facilitate live coverage.
It is essential for sports bodies to recognize the vital role the media play in promoting talent and to prioritize media access and facilities whenever they host such events.
