Plenty to mull over upcoming world awards

It is quite encouraging that this year’s World Athletics awards will still be held considering we are in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

This year’s finest athletics achievements will be celebrated via a virtual event on December 5 and streamed live on the World Athletics YouTube channel.

According to World Athletics, this year’s ceremony will recognise exceptional achievement in what has been an extraordinary and unprecedented year, both on and off the fields of play, and celebrate the athletes who met the challenges of 2020 head-on to produce some of the finest performances in the history of our sport.

Once again, athletics fans around the world will be invited to help select the male and female athletes of the year.

According to the itinerary, there will be eight awards, including three new categories.

Male and Female Athlete of the Year will still run, recognising the top-performing athletes of the year.

Nominees in the category will be announced early next week.

The President's Award will recognise and honour exceptional service to athletics, while Coaching Achievement Award will be given to a tactician who has helped athletes thrive, particularly in this difficult year.

Covid Inspiration Award will be given to an individual or group whose efforts, despite the challenges of 2020, have resulted in the delivery of a particularly inspiring athletics event or experience.

There will be another award for Member Federations, which will go towards an association that managed to deliver an uplifting athletics event in spite of this year’s challenges.

Athletes Community Award is a special award from the athletes to a group of individuals who have helped and supported them and their communities throughout trying times.

Best athletics photograph of 2020 will also be awarded. The voting process for the Athlete of the Year awards will open next week.

For us in Kenya, this is a real welcome idea and we hope we will feature in the awards in whichever way. I know Athletics Kenya have punched above their weight and done a number of programmes despite the challenges.

We not only pulled off the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour early this month but also ensured our athletes featured in a number of events including Diamond League and World Half Marathon in Poland.

In conjunction with the government, we also ensured that our most vulnerable athletes, especially youth had food on the table.

I think we did well and we will be waiting to see how the awards pan out.

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