Kenya has welcomed a $500,000 global fund, which World Athletics launched on Tuesday to help athletes out financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei said the move will help bail out athletes who are most effected by the lack of competition with a complete lockdown of sports competitions globally.

"Certainly this fund will cushion them (athletes) from the effects of this virus. Every sector needs help and we thank World Athletics for coming up with such an initiative for athletes," Tuwei said in Nairobi.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said the fund would be used to assist athletes who have lost most of their income in the last few months due to the virus-enforced suspension of international competition

"I am in constant contact with athletes around the world and I know that many are experiencing financial hardship as a consequence of the shutdown of most international sports competition in the last two months," said Coe.

Xinhua - Agencies