Iten town has finally received the prestigious International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) world athletics heritage landmark plaque.
The plaque was handed over to the Elgeyo Marakwet county governor Alex Tolgos by the North Rift Athletics Kenya chairman Jackson Pkemoi on behalf of IAAF in his office in Iten.
Receiving the plaque, the governor said the recognition was a huge boost to the efforts by his government to position Iten as a global athletics capital.
Iten and Bekoji towns in neighbouring Ethiopia were named as recipients of the plaque by the IAAF presidents Sebastian Coe for their enormous impact in the historical development of the sports of athletics in their countries and beyond.
Pkemoi congratulated athletes from the county for the plaque saying it was through their efforts that Iten town had been recognized as an athletics powerhouse not only in the country but also internationally.
The governor called on athletics stakeholders to continue working together to promote athletics in the county.
He added that the county will build a monument where the plaque will be displayed to serve as a permanent landmark and recognition that Iten town had received.
He said the county had received sh.400 million from the British government to establish sports facilities and other economic initiatives in Iten which will attract more local and foreign sportsmen and investors keen on athletics and other sports.
Tolgos said the county had already developed a plan on the use of the cash which will be launched on December 3rd for the establishment of a sports park and an elite sports hub.
By Alice Wanjiru
