WORDS BY WAIRIMU NYATHIRA, EDITOR
2024 brings with it a flurry of events in the local sports scene. These include training for the All Africa Games, the Paris Olympic Games, the WRC Safari Rally, the Kenya Open Golf tournament, and the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN).
There will be elections to choose new leaders for the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). Take a glimpse at a few noteworthy upcoming sports activities in the local area for the year 2024.
Golf Tournament for Women in Kenya
The Ladies European Tour (LET) is preparing for an exceptional season with a total of 31 tournaments taking place in 20 different countries around the globe. The renowned series will commence with the highly anticipated Magical Kenya Ladies Open from February 8 to 11, held at the Vipingo Ridge PGA Baobab course. Following this, the tour will head to Saudi Arabia and then make its way to Morocco for the Lalla Meryem Cup.
The upcoming season opener in North Coast Kenya is set to feature some of the top players from the Ladies European Tour, such as Aditi Ashok from India, who was the winner of last year’s event in Kenya. Another player to look out for in the Kenyan leg is Esther Henseleit from Germany, who has won the tournament twice.
The Kenya Open Golf Tournament
The upcoming Magical Kenya Open presents a wonderful chance for Kenyan golf enthusiasts to partake in four days of exciting action on the course. Beginning on Thursday, February 22, and concluding on Sunday, February 25, the tournament will take place at Muthaiga Golf Club.
The 2024 season of the European Tour includes the Magical Kenya Open, a tournament that has been a part of the tour since 1967. This event is typically held in the first or second week of March.
The Kenya Open has been a fixture on the Challenge Tour in Europe since 1991, and it was included in the European Tour in 2019. Over the years, notable golfers such as Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, Ken Brown, Christy O’Connor Jr, and Trevor Immelman have claimed the title. Notably, England’s Maurice Bembridge has been the most successful, securing three wins between 1968 and 1979.
Safari Rally Around the World
Good news for fans of rally racing as the Safari Rally has been officially announced as the third race of the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC). It will also return to its traditional Easter weekend slot, a tradition that has not been observed for 28 years.
According to the calendar announced by the Federation Internationale de I’ Automobile (FIA) World Motorsports Council, Safari Rally has been rescheduled to take place from March 28 to 31 in Nairobi and Naivasha. This is a change from the previous three years where the event was held in June, and it brings additional difficulty for drivers as it now aligns with the rainy season.
For the Safari Rally fans and spectators, Easter weekend was a rally weekend. Kenyans will have a nostalgic feeling as they remember the old days of the East Africa Safari Rally and names like Patrick Njiru who in 1994 won the Group N category and stamped his name in the world Guinness Book of record.
The Kip Keino Classic is a renowned event.
The Kip Keino Classic is set to take place on April 20 at Moi Kasarani in Nairobi, as a part of the World Athletics Continental Tour. This event typically occurs in May, but adjustments were made due to the 2024 Diamond League Calendar, which is scheduled to begin on April 20 in Xiamen.
The Kip Keino Classic will be of great importance for athletes preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It is set to be a crucial event in their training, showcasing top-level competition.
Elections for NOCK
The National Olympic Committee of Kenya typically conducts its elections every four years and is set to select new representatives by the end of this year. Paul Tergat, the current president of the organization, will be concluding his second term, ensuring a fresh leadership for the local Olympic committee.
CHAN
The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) hosts the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN), a continental competition exclusively for players from African nations. These players compete against each other to earn top accolades, representing their qualified countries.
In December, CAF awarded the competition to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania after not receiving any bids. This decision was made to use the event as a benchmark for preparations for the joint 2027 Pamoja Africa Cup of Nations.
Elections for FKF
In October, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will hold elections, allowing delegates to select new leadership for the country’s top sport once again.
