The 42nd edition of the IAAF World Cross Country Championship gathering in Kampala had its celebrations extend beyond the Kololo Ceremonial grounds to Hotel Africana, where a cross-cultural party went on till late, reports JOHN VIANNEY NSIMBE.
Myko Ouma on the electric guitar, Joe Sax on the saxophone, and Emma Dragu doubling as the trumpeter and vocalist, wound up a hectic day of running, cheering and chanting under the scorching sun.
From instrumentals born out of favourite Ugandan songs such as Radio and Weasel’s Neera, to singing the popular Swahili song Nerea by Sauti Sol and a wrap-up with a rendition of Phil Collins’ Everyday, it was the perfect mix for a cross-cultural audience.
At Kololo earlier, First Lady Janet Museveni was clearly letting her hair down as Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo and others gave Ugandan spectators something to cheer about (and groan about later, in Cheptegei’s case). Janet continuously stood up to cheer and applaud Uganda’s runners on the track.
She was caught up in the frenzy, catching even her husband President Museveni, off guard. The president was often seen gesturing for Janet to sit down. He did not appear comfortable seeing her off her seat swinging her arms and clapping.
Could it be because she was blocking the view of those seated behind her, or was the president being mindful of a possible security breach? These are tough times, after all.
There were 60 countries that competed, making this a boiling pot of ideas and characteristics. For example, Nigerians are known to throw their weight around everywhere they go.
Well, not here; Nigerians have never been popular for long-distance running and the WCC was graced by a couple of uncharacteristically quiet Nigerian athletes, running without any cheerleaders. They had to accept their place in the shadows of Kenyans, Ethiopians and hosts Uganda.
As for Rwanda, failing to impress on the cross country track did not stop the country’s dance and entertainment performed by Ndere Troupe from thrilling the guests.
Dinner dresses and suits are customarily what people wear on dinner outings. But for a number of American and Canadian female athletes, the dinner at Hotel Africana was honoured with tiny patra shorts and jeans.
These young ladies, many in their late teens and early twenties, had come prepared for a dance party. Well, blame the Kampala heat. Alessia Scaini from Turin, Italy, said Kampala was so hot she had to loosen up.
And loosen up many did, when Bebe Cool hit the stage with his Fire Anthem collaboration with Nazizi and Wyre. Then he performed Kabulengane and athletes, including Winnie Nannyondo, who represented Uganda in the mixed relays, stormed the stage. She nearly danced herself lame; why not, anyway? Hours earlier her exertions had brought Uganda a prize of $4,000 for finishing fourth in her race.
A female athlete from Lebanon got on stage, as did another from Morocco, to show how they do it in their countries, on the prompting of Bebe Cool. That was fun!
This WCC event went a long way in boosting the Turks’ reputation in long- distance running. They won bronze in the mixed relays, thanks in part to their naturalization of Kenyan runners.
Bahrain has also done the same. The Middle Eastern state also paraded a team of Kenyan runners, confirming the potential Kenya has to milk her ‘track resource’ and add to its foreign exchange reserves.
And, Stephen Kiprotich who won Olympic gold in 2012, is really famous! A number of foreign athletes were dying to take pictures with him. Such a high-profile figure he is, as was the event itself; a landmark for Uganda.
jovi@observer.ug