Gov't Reveals Plan to Establish World-Class Volleyball Centre in Kenya

Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has revealed plans to establish a world-class Volleyball Centre of Excellence in Kenya.

Mvurya made the announcement on Thursday, September 3, following high-level discussions with International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) President Fabio Azevedo, with the talks focusing on deepening cooperation between Kenya and the global volleyball governing body.

"Kenya has been a key beneficiary of FIVB’s Volleyball Development Programme, whose investment in technical expertise, modern equipment, coaching and capacity development has contributed significantly to the growth of the sport and strengthened the performance, visibility and competitiveness of our national teams on the continental and global stage," the statement read.

Mvurya said the proposed centre would provide a platform for developing volleyball at various levels, from identifying and nurturing grassroots talent to preparing elite athletes for high-level competition.

"We welcome the proposal to establish a world-class Volleyball Centre of Excellence in Kenya to provide a foundation for building a strong and sustainable volleyball ecosystem, from grassroots talent identification and development to elite training, coach education, technical capacity building and high-performance preparation," the statement added.

Mvurya said the government would work with key volleyball bodies to turn the proposal into reality and expand opportunities for athletes, coaches and other stakeholders in the sport.

"We will continue working closely with FIVB, the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) and the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) to realise this vision and create greater opportunities for our athletes, coaches and the entire volleyball fraternity," the statement concluded.

This comes weeks after Kenya entered the race to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, with Nairobi submitting its application to stage the competition.

In a statement on Monday, August 10, Athletics Kenya said the government is seeking to bring the senior World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time.

"Kenya has put forward a robust, government-backed bid that is expected to serve as a strong, historic push for the African continent. 

"If successful, the selection of Nairobi would mark the first time the senior World Athletics Championships are held in Africa," the statement read.

Athletics Kenya highlighted several major international athletics competitions previously staged locally, including the 2007 World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, the 2017 World Athletics Under-18 Championships in Nairobi and the 2021 World Athletics Under-20 Championships, also held in Nairobi.

The country also hosts annual World Athletics Gold Label events, including the Kip Keino Classic track and field meeting in Nairobi and the Sirkwa Classic Cross Country Championships in Uasin Gishu County. 

Nairobi further hosted the 2010 African Athletics Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium.

"The government has committed its full support to the bid, ensuring the necessary organizational framework, security measures, and modern infrastructure required to host a world-class global showpiece," the statement added.

Nairobi will face competition from three major European cities as it seeks to secure the right to host the 2029 championships, with London, Rome and Munich also in contention for the prestigious event.

"The winning host cities for both the 2029 and 2031 championships will be announced by World Athletics after the Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary next month," the statement concluded.