IAAF President, Lamin Diac and AAC President, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum varified Ethiopia’s satisfactory preparations to host the championship on Monday while holding discussions with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at the premier’s office.

Lamin Diac said he has observed Ethiopia’s preparations at Addis Ababa and the Abebe Bikila Stadiums.

He told Meles that he is pleased to learn the country is well prepared to host the championship.

He also expressed his belief that the people of Ethiopia would host the contesting athletes and other guests in the course of the championship.

Similarly, Hamad Kalkaba invited Meles to officially launch the 16th Africa Athletics Championship and called upon him to play his level best toward the successful completion of the championship.

The AAC president also invited Meles to attend the awarding ceremony of the Africa’s former star athletes to be held at Sheraton Addis Hotel on 29 April 2008 under a theme “Hall of Fame”, which is the first of its kind in Africa.

Moreover, Hamad Kalkaba invited Ethiopia’s prime minister to take part at the symposium to be opened on 29 April 2008 at hall of the African Union under a theme “The role of sports in peace and integration”.

Meles vowed on the occasion to do his level best toward realizing the objectives of the Africa Athletics Confederation, State Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Abdissa Yadeta, who attended the discussions, told journalists on Monday.

According to the state minister, about 13 of the 44 former star African athletes to be awarded on Tuesday will be Ethiopians.

R- 5:27-6:05 pm

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