KURUME, Japan, Jul 16 – 800m women sensational Eunice Sum has been named the overall captain for Team Kenya’s Olympic Games while Malkia Strikers skipper Mercy Moim and Shujaa’s Andrew Amonde will be the flag bearers during the opening ceremony.
Sum, the 2013 World Champion was selected based on her experience, having competed at the Rio Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Relays and World Continental Cup.
She will be assisted by Amonde, who also has wealth of experience having represented Kenya Sevens for a long period in the World Sevens Series.
Following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive during the flag hand over to Team Kenya at State House that there should be equal representation in both gender, Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and Olympics Kenya settled for Sum due to the fact that there are more women in the Kenyan contingent.
In the Kenyan delegation of 87, there are a total of 49 women and 38 men athletes with athletics carrying a huge chunk (40) and its for that reason also that Olympics Kenya settled on Sum.
Rugby is the second highest delegation with 26 players (13 men and 13 women) and that is how Amonde got selected as assistant while the national women’s volleyball team (Malkia Strikers) is third with 12 players.
However, with Sum expected to arrive in Tokyo on July 24, a day after the opening ceremony, Moim will carry the mantle of representing the women in carrying Kenya’s flag alongside Amonde.
According the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during the opening ceremony each country is required to have a male and female representative for the flag bearers.
Speaking from Kurume City in Japan, Moim was exited with the news, saying that it is an opportunity to showcase to the world of Kenya’s heritage since they will be donning the Maasai printed attire with Kenyan flag colors.
“I am happy for this opportunity; it came as a surprise because I was not expecting to carry Kenya’s flag at the Olympics opening ceremony. As a girl from Mt. Elgon in a small village called Kaboyua, I am extremely happy. I know we are going to do our best, the national anthem will be sung in Tokyo severally, we will be number one,” Moim said.
CS Amina has been championing for equal representation in the Kenyan Sport and has constituted a women’s sports commission that will be looking into all women’s affairs in sports.
