Kibaki boosts Kenya’s Olympic spirit with cash rewards

President Kibaki observed: “The purpose of investing in such projects is to enable the Government provide a suitable environment for our young and talented sportsmen and women to train in order to sharpen their skills so as to become internationally competitive.”

The government will also be building modern sports facilities in each of the country’s provincial headquarters.

President Kibaki assured the national team that the Government had allocated enough resources through the ministry of youth and sports to cater for all logistics in terms of equipment, uniforms, air tickets, accommodation and upkeep allowances.

He said, “In this regard, let me assure you that my government fully supports you. We have, for instance, set aside over 100 million shillings to prepare and facilitate your participation in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Commending the team members for their individual painstaking effort to earn a slot in the hotly contested national qualifying events, President Kibaki urged them to remain focused during the entire competition period in order to translate their hard and rigorous training into a harvest of medals.

He also commended all sponsors and volunteers for their support to the team to ensure that the legacy of Kenya’s legendary sportsmen and women will never fade.

Addressing the same function, sports minister, Hellen Sambili, thanked President Kibaki for institutionalising cash awards to athletes which has tremendously boosted their morale.

Kenya will compete in five disciplines during the Beijing Olympics namely athletics, boxing, tae kwon-do, rowing and swimming.

On Monday, Kenya’s representatives to the recently concluded World Junior Championships held in Poland were also honoured with cash awards for their sterling performance in which they finished third out of over 180 countries that participated in the championships.

Other speakers during the occasion were chef de mission to the Olympics, David Okeyo and Keino.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, cabinet ministers George Saitoti and Sam Ongeri and the head of civil service Francis Muthaura, among other senior government and corporate officials, were present.

The president also announced that his government will build small but modern facilities at each province to provide suitable environment for training of athletes. The centres will help sensitise and expose athletes at the grass root to disciplines which are not accessible at the village level.

The eight centres will be in line with its plans to build a national sports academy in Nairobi under the 2030 vision which will provide specialised training to Kenyan athletes. Also to be launched will be the National lottery which will generate the funds to foot all national teams expenses abroad while taking part in any championship.

“It will be used to have sports development from the sub-location level through to the national. Sports help enhance national cohesion and patriotism which is important in national building. Sportsmen from different cultures and backgrounds meet together and compete fairly,” said Kibaki.

The president underscored the importance of sports as a career and best way to promote tourism and challenged the athletes that the whole country will be cheering them on and celebrate together whenever the national anthem will be sang.