Highlight local heroes for inspiration, sports writers urged

Sports journalists have been challenged to champion patriotism by highlighting local sports competitions and athletes.

Giving a key note address during the second of six nationwide sports journalist training seminars at Nyeri’s Ibis Hotel at the weekend, Athletics Kenya secretary David Okeyo told journalists to be role models in society by focusing on local sports heroes as the country warms up to host over 54 countries for the 17th African Athletics Championships to be held in Nairobi on July 28 to August 1 at the Nyayo National Stadium.

“It about time we sing, dream and cheer our own heroes. If a journalist knows the line-up of a national athletics team, the society will know. That is why many Kenyans know about European footballers because you know them,” said Okeyo.

Okeyo, who is also the chief executive officer of the continental championship, said that the world will be watching as Kenya hosts yet another major international athletics championship after 2007 Mombasa IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

“Athletics will be coming home again in three months’ time, and this time, our slogan is ‘one continent one people.’ We will take up the challenge of offering a rebate on buses and matatus for Kenyans who would like to come to Nairobi to watch our stars doing what they do best,” said Okeyo.

Former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat and track coach Anthony Maina were among the speakers at the training. Tergat gave the thumbs up to the Nairobi 2010 local organising committee for launching the initiative to train athletics writers, adding that the training should extend beyond the Nairobi championship.

The journalists’ training is being held in tandem with the New KCC/AK weekend meetings. Closing the Nyeri seminar, AK treasurer Joseph Kinyua said his association was dedicated to helping promote athletics journalism and also encouraging young athletes to take up the sport and education.

“In case there is a deserving athlete who is not able to pay his or her school fees and if all else, including the CDF funding and government subsidies, fails, AK can look at such cases,” said Kinyua.