This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
As the world grapples with the novel Covid-19 pandemic, the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) is gearing up for its return to Kenya after an 18-year hiatus. The 2020 Safari Rally, scheduled for July 16-19, is expected to bring a much-needed boost to the country's sports scene.
According to sources, the government is set to provide an update on the status of the Safari Rally this Friday, amid the ongoing coronavirus lockdown. Meanwhile, event organisers will start receiving competitors' entries on Saturday, with media accreditation for local journalists opening on May 18.
The registration drive will last for a month to avoid a last-minute rush, with foreign journalists, including those in Africa, being handled by the International Motorsport Federation (FIA). The WRC has suffered significantly due to the pandemic, with only three events - Monte Carlo, Sweden, and Mexico rallies - being held as scheduled.
Argentina, Portugal, and Italy rounds have been put on hold, with organisers and the FIA closely monitoring the situation before announcing new dates. The Safari Rally is set to be the first destination of the championship, making it an important assignment for the WRC Safari Rally team and the government as the principal sponsor of the championship.
Ministry of Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and Principal Secretary Joe Okudo have worked tirelessly to ensure Kenya is not caught off guard. Besides the update on the Safari Rally status, the FIA and its commercial rights holder, the WRC Promoter, will also provide an update on the movement of the Safari Rally kit from Mexico to the port of Mombasa.
The equipment, which will be transported in 65 containers, will be transported from Mombasa to Suswa by the Standard Gauge Railway train. From there, it will be transported by road to the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute in Naivasha, which will host the Service Park and serve as the nerve centre for the Safari Rally.
Civil engineering work is complete, and construction of structures to accommodate factory and private teams, the International Broadcasting Centre, and the Main Press Centre will follow. The WRC Safari Rally is expected to be a game-changer in terms of media operations in Kenya, with new standards being set that could be replicated in other sporting disciplines.
The FIA rates media operations highly, alongside competitors, sponsors, and the people who work tirelessly to marshal the route and ensure the safety of spectators and drivers alike. The FIA accreditation process is considered one of the best in the world, underpinning the distance Kenyans must cover to meet international standards.
For example, the Main Press Centre design, measuring 100x45 feet, includes a press room, photographers' quarters, television booths, manufacturers' teams' lounge, and resting areas. This will be independent of the WRC Promoter media team of about 50 crew, which will film and send material to London for editing before being streamed live by WRC+ TV and onto linear TV stations and official social media platforms across the globe.
Oliver Ciesla, the WRC Promoter managing director, values the free advertising for Kenya as a tourism destination at Sh4.5 billion, underlining the commercial value of the Safari.
