Athletics SA in talks to bring gold-label track and field event to the country

Moloi and his delegation are set to travel to Monaco next month to discuss the bidding process for staging the prestigious competition.

Moloi says he’s positive that the country will host the world’s top athletes to compete against local talent on home soil.

"We were supposed to go Monaco next week but now they've written us a letter to say we must come in the first week of March. So, immediately after we are going with the government because we asked the government to support us and now we are going to take the government with us,” Moloi said.

“So, immediately when we come back from Monaco then we will announce officially about the bidding but now, we've got assurity that they are just going to help us but we are still going to see them.

“World Athletics asked us to come to Monaco so they can explain the conditions and the monies and all but immediately after that maybe it will be good news, then we'll publish that."

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The gold-label event is expected to be held in Gauteng if the ongoing discussions are successful. ASA are set to kick off its track and field season next month with the Grand Prix Series Continental Challenger 1 on 12 March at Pilditch Stadium.

Moloi offered words of encouragement for the athletes ahead of the start of the season.

"Our message is please train very hard so that we can represent South Africa. We are relying on you. If you see now our athletes are doing very well and I'm encouraging them to say please stay injury-free, train as hard as you can and choose races that you can win but we need more athletes that will qualify on track and field,” he added.

“We still need more medals, especially in Tokyo. So, we are relying on you and we are behind you as management to say, and we are there for you."