Douala African Championships to have air quality sensors — Tuwei

Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jackson Tuwei has revealed plans to install an air quality sensor at the African Senior Championships on June 21-26 in Douala, Cameroon.

Air quality sensors measure levels of impurities in the air, especially that which can cause illnesses and affect athletes' performances.

Kenya held their trials for the African Championships on Tuesday and Wednesday with the final list of athlete representatives due next week.

The air quality sensor installation is a joint effort between AK, UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) and SEI (Stockholm Environmental Institute).

Tuwei was joined by SEI centre director, Philip Osano and UNEP’s communication and outreach Africa lead Tom Ogola.

In a press conference at Riadha House, Tuwei said they have installed similar gadgets in six African countries. These are Kenya, Senegal (Dakar hosts of the 2026 Olympic Youth Games), Ethiopia, Tanzania (Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar) and Zambia (Lusaka and Dola).

“We have installed air quality sensors in 14 stadiums and sports facilities in six African countries. We will now have one in Douala, Cameroon next month, during the African Championships,” he noted.

In Kenya, the systems have been set up at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani, Nyayo Stadium, KWS (Kenya Wildlife Service), Nakuru Athletics Club, Nakuru Girls', Lobo Village in Eldoret, Eliud Kipchoge Complex in Kapsabet and St. Patrick’s Iten.

On Wednesday, AK joined Maseno University during the International Day for Biological Diversity with UNEP and SEI where they installed an air quality sensor.

Tuwei said the air sensors are crucial for athletes. Dirty air affects athletes' performance.

“Athletes will tell you how they return home with congested chests, and blocked noses, which hamper their training and competition,” Tuwei noted.

“The air quality sensors ensure athletes run in clean places where they are not affected by some of these elements and can, therefore, produce their best,” he noted.

"We have plans to install the sensors in other African nations and the rest of the world."

Meanwhile, AK is among 12 institutions invited to the WHO (World Health Organisation) conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

“This is our first time to get invited to such an event. AK is among 12 other institutions that will attend the event. We will have a booth activity at the conference to demonstrate what we are doing in mitigating climate change,” Tuwei noted.