Athletics event gets underway in Dar

The national athletics championship gets underway at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam today with more than 460 athletes expected to compete.

Athletic Tanzania (AT) president Anthony Mtaka said most of the regional teams have arrived in the city ready for the event while other are expected to arrive this morning.

AT has received a donation of 1.4 m/- from Bank ABC and the money will be used to accommodate athletes and their officials in the city. He made a last-gasp call to companies, organizations and individuals to help the association so that it can manage to host the championship in the best way.

Mtaka said he expects the event to be more competitive and interesting as all athletes aspire to prove their worth to win national team call.

“The championship gets under away tomorrow (Today) at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam and we expect the turn out to be good”, he said.

On Wednesday AT secretary general Suleiman Nyambui said the event will be used as a platform to identify young and potential athlete who will represent the country at the, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Commonwealth, All Africa and Olympic Games in Scotland, Congo Brazzaville and the Rio de Janeiro, respectively.

Nyambui said the event will give athletics coaches the opportunity to assess young athletes who triumphed at the Secondary Schools Sports Association (UMISETA) and Primary Schools Sports association (UMITASHUMTA).