NAIROBI,Kenya, September 23- Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka today officially presented the national flag to the contingent that will be traveling New Delhi, India to represent Kenya at the 19th Commonwealth games.During a ceremony held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre and witnessed by sports officials and athletes led by sports minister Paul Otuoma Mr. Musyoka passed on the flag to the teams overall captain and world beating athlete Ezekiel Kemboi, with a call to the team members to go to India and uphold the country’s sports glory.
The VP told the contingent comprising of 14 disciplines among them athletics, shooting badminton, boxing, cycling, rugby and archery to maintain team spirit and be good ambassadors of the country.
He said sports have become a lucrative business that earns the country billions of shillings every year and urged the youth to nurture and exploit their talents.
The VP says the government recognizes the important role the industry is playing nationally particularly in the creation of wealth and the promotion of national cohesion.
“Sports is a serious industry and we recognize it as an important a vehicle that cab used to promote national cohesion among our people”, he observed.
He urged the ministry of sports to explore ways of uplifting the standards of soccer in the country, to bring it at par with other disciplines such as athletics, rugby, volleyball and cricket.
The VP disclosed that the government will award a half a million shillings to every winner of a gold medal, Shs. 300,000 for silver and Kshs. 200, 000 for bronze.
Mr. Otuoma announced that the ministry will soon launch a revised National sports policy which will guide the development, administration and financing of the industry with a view to revamping it.
Present were Isaiah Kiplagat, Athletics association chairman, Kipchoge Keino, Nock chairman, Jonathan Kosgei, chef de mission and David Okeyo, Athletics secretary among others.
Meanwhile, the VP held talks with the outgoing Norwegian Ambassador to Kenya Ms Elizabeth Jacobsen who paid him a courtesy call at his Jogoo house office.
The VP said during her tour of duty, Kenya and Norwegian deepened their relations.
Mr. Musyoka wished her success in her new endeavour