Kenya has entered the race to host the 10th Africa Aquatics Swimming Championship in 2025, with a grand vision to blend world-class sports with unmatched tourism experiences.
Kenya Aquatics are looking at hosting the event either at the Kasarani Aquatic Arena or the newly constructed Olympic size pool in Machakos.
Speaking Thursday, Kenya Aquatics executive member Heize Kahindo said the bid document has been sent to the Africa Aquatics Association. Other nations interested in hosting the five-day championship — either May or June — are Angola, Tanzania, Egypt and Algeria.
“We have submitted our bid document. We are looking at two bid venues, Kasarani and Machakos,” Kahindo said.
Kenya last hosted the championships in 2012 at Kasarani and Kahindo believes it will be an honour to host the event again after a 12-year hiatus.
“We witnessed wrangling in the top echelons of the sport for the past decade due to bad leadership and now that a new team is in office, we are making great strides and one of them is hosting the event,” Kahindo said.
Kahindo said the bid has received support from the government through the ministries of Sports and Tourism.
“The two ministries have given us their full support. It’s not just a swimming event. We want the visitors to see what the country has to offer from a hospitality and wildlife standpoint with visits to game parks for all the teams that will be coming for the competition,” Kahindo said.
The championship brings together athletes from across Africa’s Zones One, Two, Three and Four.
Kahindo said Kenya will field a strong team at the championships.
“We will pick our best swimmers.Those at home and abroad will get a chance,” Kahindo said.
Africa Aquatics will announce the hosts
in the New Year.
Dashing Dolphins have set their sights on the Kiambu Minnows Swimming Championships on November 23 at Potterhouse School, Runda, and the Kiambu Masters event.
