Johannesburg: The Burkinabe capital is preparing to become, on July 25 and 26, the epicenter of sub-regional athletics on the occasion of the 4th edition of the 5 Nations U18-U20 Championships, the Burkinabe Athletics Federation announced on Thursday during a press conference.
According to Burkina Information Agency, nearly 150 athletes from Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Burkina Faso are expected at the August 4th Stadium. For two days, the best up-and-coming West African athletes, aged under 18 and under 20, will compete in 32 events, offering a high-level sporting spectacle and a prime opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the participating federations.
For the Burkina Faso Athletics Federation, this competition is of strategic importance. It constitutes an essential step in the preparation of young athletes for major upcoming international and continental events, notably the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar and the World Junior Championships scheduled for Eugene, USA.
'We have the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar as well as the World Junior Championships in Eugene, USA. This competition will allow us to evaluate and prepare our best athletes in these age categories,' said FEBA's first vice-president, Missiri Sawadogo.
The federal official and former national technical director also expressed his confidence in the performance of the Burkinabe team, which boasts 34 young talents and 5 coaches, already distinguished on the continental stage.
'We have athletes in our ranks who regularly bring us medals, including at the African level. This edition will notably bring together several African champions and vice-champions,' he emphasized, citing Zalissa Zongo (long jump and triple jump), Abdoul Rachid Traor© (110 meters hurdles) and Alan Sawadogo (triple jump).
Burkina Faso will approach this competition with the ambition of confirming the performances achieved during the 3rd edition of the African U18-U20 Athletics Championships, held in Abeokuta, Nigeria, where the national delegation won six medals, including one gold, three silver, and two bronze.
Through the organization of this competition, Burkina Faso reaffirms its commitment to promoting athletics, to developing the next generation of national athletes and to consolidating its status as a host country for major sporting events in West Africa.