NAIROBI, Kenya: — Kenyan Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has called for more investments in training facilities to improve sports in the country.
Speaking during a meeting hosted to welcome the 2012 Olympics team that jetted back from London today, Musyoka said improved training facilities will ensure Kenyan sportsmen and women get more medals in future competitions.
“All countries in the world are studying the performance of Kenyan sportsmen,” he added.
The Kenyan team arrived in Kenya early on Wednesday without Olympic 800 meter gold medalist David Rudisha, Olympic 5,000m silver medalist Vivian Cheruiyot and Sally Kipyego, all who together with other elite runners opted to remain in Europe for the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm on Friday.
However, Olympic marathon silver medallist Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang, the bronze medal winner, Timothy Kitum, 800m bronze medallist and World Indoor 800m champion Pamela Jelimo were received in the morning as they returned the flag to the country.
“It was a nice experience to compete at the Olympics. We did not do what many expected, but this is sports where we have competition and the best prepared will always emerge victorious,” said Jelimo upon arrival in Nairobi.
Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Paul Otuoma, assured sports stakeholders that the government will give all the necessary support to them and sportsmen so that teams are prepared without any interference.
He assured Kenyans that an analysis of the Olympics 2012 in London will be done to ensure mistakes are not done in future.
“Once the report is ready it will be made public and will be acted upon for the benefit of now and the future,” said Otuoma.
He thanked all those who participated in the Olympics and called for Kenyans to continue supporting them. Musyoka particularly commended Rudisha for winning gold and breaking his own record, noting that he had done Kenyans proud.
He urged those who did not win any medals not to give up but instead start preparing early enough for future championships.
“With proper preparations our sportsmen can win even more medals in future competitions,” Musyoka said.
He noted that the East African nation has already been branded as a sports nation and urged Kenyans to not only continue supporting sportsmen but also the development of sports in the country.
The VP called for the diversification of other sports disciplines such as javelin, discuss and hammer to name but a few in order to expand their participation and increase medals potentials in future.
He challenged the sportsmen to improve on their tactics and aim at even winning more medals in future competitions.He also called on all sports stakeholders to plan and improve their management techniques in order to achieve better results in future engagements.
He said the Olympics was a wonderful get together for all nations, saying that sportsmen were true ambassadors of Kenya.
Chairman National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), Kichoge Keino said Kenya performed well and the sportsmen need to be congratulated, adding that all shortcomings that may have occurred will be addressed.
He thanked the government and sponsors for supporting the Olympic team. (Xinhua)
