Posted: April 20, 2006

Athletics: 20,000 Spectators As 2007 World Cross Organisers Open New Office

Monte Carlo - The local and national enthusiasm of the organisers of the next edition of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, in Mombasa, Kenya, seems to now no limits, as approximately 20,000 people flocked to the streets of this historic port city to witness the opening of a new headquarters for the organising committee in Nyali district.

Kenya's Sports Minister Maina Kamanda and Mombasa Acting Mayor Sharrif Shekue, were present at yesterday's ceremony, at which the IAAF flag was formally handed over to the secretariat staff by IAAF Vice-President Helmut Digel (GER) and IAAF General Secretary Pierre Weiss (FRA).

Digel said, after the ceremony: "This has been a really outstanding experience. If you consider that, for the first time ever, we have 20,000 local people coming out to support the opening of an office, we can be confident that around 50,000 spectators will turn out to watch the world's best distance runners. I think Mombasa 2007 will be a marvellous competition. I believe that this event will offer an outstanding opportunity also for tourists to come and watch great athletics but also see the marvellous Kenyan countryside."

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The IAAF Vice-President also emphasised the vital support being offered to the competition by local authorities: "Now is the time for the professionals to get to work. This competition will be a unique opportunity but will need a lot of attention and support from the Government, the Municipal Council and the LOC in the next months."

The 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships will take place in Mombasa on 24 March 2007.

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