NAIROBI, Kenya, January 18- Team Kenya is scheduled to depart for Bristol City in the United Kingdom on July 1 before re-locating to the Olympics Village in London a fortnight later.
At the same time, the National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) has shelved Sh54m to be used for London 2012 qualifiers by various disciplines eyeing a piece of the Olympics action in the summer.
During the unveiling of the London 2012 Olympics Management Committee- Kenya Chapter, on Wednesday, Nock chair, Dr. Kipchoge Keino urged for the remaining time to the Games to be maximised to achieve the nation’s goal of returning a best ever performance.
“We have set July 1 as the departure date for the team to our special camp in the city of Bristol. We have only five months to the Olympics and the Management Committee has a lot of work to improve and manage the team,” he stated.
The body that will be led by him has been tasked with preparing and supervision of daily training programmes, ensuring that all athletes are well prepared for the Games, accreditation and required documentation to the Olympics and entry by names of athletes to the sports they will participate.
Other duties of the committee comprised of team managers from various disciplines, Nock officials and Sports Ministry bureaucrats also include provision of uniform, kit and equipment, administrative duties and the subsequent report to the Games upon their conclusion.
Jonathan Koskei of Kenya Police will be the Chef de Mission for the London Games with Nock secretary, Francis Paul acting in the same capacity for the management body. Samson Olala from the Sports Ministry will be the financial officer assisted by Nock’s Fridah Shiroya.
Stephen Soi (Nock) will be the Executive officer deputised by Sports Ministry’s Joseph Kirima with James Chacha named the General Team Manager while Dr. Julius Ogeto will be the Chief Medical Officer.
Representatives from 13 disciplines accorded the chance to qualify for London 2012 are included in the committee in the capacity of team managers with those failing to make the cut for London ceasing to be members.
“I’m confident that the team will be able to produce good results and the performance from the coming Olympics. We did very well in Beijing and we want to improve and have better results in London Olympics Games.
“It is a challenge to the management committee to ensure that we realise this objective. We have no time to lose and in future, we may think of sustaining the committee to ensure that we send more sports to the Olympics,” Kipchoge urged.
He called on federations to take a pro-active approach to dealing with the local Olympics body to improve the performance.
“For now, only Athletics Kenya are in regular communications with us and all other federations should do the same.”
The Nock boss stated the launched committee would be meeting every fortnight to access the progress made in the road to London.
Kenya is seeking to surpass the 14 medal haul, six gold, four silver and four bronze, she won at their best ever outing at the last edition in Beijing where they returned the best showing in Africa.
All the medals were from the track and marathon squads.
