Nairobi, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The groundbreaking ceremony of the Taranta Sports City project undertaken by Chinese enterprises was held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, on March 1. Speaking at the ceremony, Kenya said the project will reshape Kenya's sporting image as a symbol of infrastructure development in the country and Nairobi.
Located in Nairobi, the Taranta Sports City project is a 60,000-seat FIFA-standard professional football stadium and is planned to host the opening and closing ceremonies and matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Africa Cup of Nations). The project is undertaken by China Road and Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd. and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
In his speech, Ruto said that Kenya will co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations at the stadium, which will lay the cornerstone for Kenya to become a regional and global sports development and event hub. He noted that sports development is an important part of Kenya's economic transformation plan, and Kenya will provide adequate resources for the country's sports and athlete development.
Kenya's Minister of Youth, Creative Economy and Sports, Namwamba said that the stadium will be designed and constructed with environmental protection and energy conservation in mind, making full use of natural lighting, ventilation and renewable energy, and incorporating elements of Kenyan culture.
Jiao Xuxue, deputy general manager of China Road and Bridge Kenya Office, said in an interview that the stadium will become a new landmark building in Kenya after completion, and will become the main venue for citizens' leisure and fitness and various cultural and recreational activities while meeting the requirements of comprehensive and special sports events, providing long-term support for the development of the local entertainment and sports industry.
More than 200 people, including Kenya's most prominent social figures and representatives, attended the groundbreaking ceremony.