Let the action begin
National Athletics head coach Julius Kirwa has joined other Kenyan athletes in yarning for the start of the Diamond League season opener next month.
Kirwa says the elite athletics meetings will play a key role in getting the athletes ready for the Olympics.
“For me, that is how I look at it. I want my athletes to have opportunities to race and be in shape that is why the diamond league is one perfect platform,” Kirwa told People Sport.
According to the changes from the World Athletics, the Diamond League will
now begin in Gateshead on May 23 after the city in northeast England replaced Rabat.
The meeting in the Moroccan capital has been cancelled because of coronavirus restrictions as the pandemic continues to disrupt the calendar as athletes prepare for the rearranged Tokyo Olympics this year.
“Getting the athletes to race is such a pleasant thing. As a coach, it gives me much joy,” Kirwa said.
Two time consecutive National Cross Country Champion Sheila Chelangat and former Africa junior winner Nicholas Kimeli are excited as the season opener moves closer.
“I didn’t manage to compete at the Diamond League last season because of the pandemic.
This year I am hoping it will be different, the good thing there are measures and protocols put in place to ensure we can get back to competition in a safe manner,” Chelangat told People Sport.
Kimeli who paced for Uganda world champion Joshua Cheptegei to a world record last October in Spain shared Chelangat’s sentiments.
“Racing is our life, so you can imagine if we are not able to get to the track or road to compete. I am happy and very much looking forward to the Diamond League kick off,” said Kimeli.
Among the changes made by World Athletics, it will be the first time Gateshead will be hosting a Diamond League meeting since the series, formerly the Golden League, was rebranded in 2010.
In other changes to the 2021 calendar, Rome’s Pietro Mennea Golden Gala meeting will relocate to Florence following the confirmation on Wednesday that the Italian capital’s Stadio Olimpico will host matches in the football European Championship after the Italian government met Uefa’s demand that spectators be allowed to attend.
The meeting in Florence will move from June 4 to June 10.
In another change, the Bislett Games in Oslo, due to take place in June, will be postponed until July 1 to comply with local coronavirus restrictions.
