Tanzania: Athletics Tanzania asked to bid for 2010 African championships.

TANZANIA has been advised to bid for the 2010 African Athletics Championships.

International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) official John Velevian believes Tanzania can host the biannual tournament upon completion of the ultra-modern stadium being constructed in Dar es Salaam.

Velevian, IAAF regional development director based in Nairobi, toured the Olympic-standard stadium early this week and was impressed by its structure.

He, however, directed Athletics Tanzania (AT) to ensure that IAAF specifications were abided by when laying the running track to make it ideal for international competitions.

’’He also told us to bid for the 2010 African Athletics Championships once the running track is in place and conforms to the required standards,’’ AT secretary general Suleiman Nyambui said yesterday.

The 60,000-seater stadium, which is being constructed by a Chinese firm, Beijing Construction Engineering Group Company Limited (BCEG), will be ready by February next year.

The same company is constructing the Olympic Stadium in Beijing which will host the 2008 Olympic Games.

The African championships were this year held in Mauritius and the next will be held in Addis Ababa in 2008.

Meanwhile, Velevian has directed AT to ensure that district and regional associations are active and work closely with the national body.

’’He observed that where there is no cooperation between the national body and its affiliates, development is hard to come by,’’ Nyambui said.

The regional development director also called upon AT to draw up sustainable youth and juvenile development programmes as well as train its coaches so as to turn around the country’s athletics fortunes.