KBL Sales Director Kimani Mwaura, NOC-K President Dr. Kipchoge Keino, former two-time women’s World Marathon Champion Catherine Ndereba and KBL Marketing Director John Williams with the cheque presented to the National Olympic Committee-Kenya (NOC-K) for Kenya team’s preparations to the Rio 2016 Olympic games. PHOTO/Courtesy
NAIROBI, December 17- The National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) chairman, Dr. Kipchoge Keino, assured Wednesday all qualified teams for Rio 2016 will be facilitated adequately to prepare for the Brazil Summer Games.
The two-time Olympics champion and father of Kenyan distance running was speaking when he led the national body in receiving sponsorship of Sh21m in cash from East Africa Breweries Limited through their flagship brand, Tusker in Nairobi.
A further Sh50m in add-ons will be spent by the firm to finance preparations for Rio 2016 preparations bringing the total value of the one-year package to Sh71m.
Dr. Keino lauded the partnership as the brewers became the first corporate entity to answer Nock’s fundraising effort for the August 2 to August 22 sporting carnival in Rio launched in September with a lottery competition.
“It will go a long way in ensuring that the Kenya team to the Olympics is adequately prepared for the Games. It also clearly shows that the corporate world is willing to support us in our quest to Rio 2016 dominance and is therefore, a very welcome gesture,” he underscored.
“We intend to use this partnership to enhance the team’s preparations to the Olympics, as well as rally the country to provide the much needed support during the games next year,” KBL Marketing Director John Williams added.
The recently launched ‘Team Kenya’ campaign that signed up world, Commonwealth and Africa men Javelin titleholder, Julius Yego, to become an ambassador is the chosen vehicle for the Rio 2016 promotional push.
“For us, the decision to partner with NOC-K for Rio 2016 was easy as it aligns with our Team Kenya campaign – a campaign that seeks to celebrate Kenyans for their accomplishments in whichever sphere of life they attain the achievements,” the director explained.
“We will be unveiling a nationwide campaign early next year in a bid to rally as many Kenyans as possible behind the team and to make this an all-inclusive engagement” his Sale Director counterpart, Kimani Mwaura, added.
Thus far, the men and women rugby sevens teams have qualified for Rio with Kenya Rugby Union chairman, Richard Omwela, expressing concern over Noc-k plans for the teams.
