Government drags its feet as team awaits Sh332m

The Government is yet to release Sh332m meant to facilitate Team Kenya’s preparations and participation in the Commonwealth Games due from July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow.

But the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) secretary general Francis Paul called for calm ahead of their meeting over the issue with government officials on Thursday.

The team that will comprise 269 athletes in 15 disciplines is expected to start residential training on June 17 ahead of their July 15 departure.

“We have held several meetings with the government and there is progress. Our meeting tomorrow (Thursday) should give us the way forward,” said Paul.

The money was not factored in the budget of the current financial year. However, it featured in the supplementary budget cleared by parliament in February.

Kenya’s Triathlon team will make its debut at the Games as Judo makes a comeback since the 2002 Manchester Games.

Athletics has the highest number of 67 participants (30 men, 25 women, 12 officials) in the squad of 188 athletes and 53 officials. Other events are Elite Athletics with Disabilities (EAD), badminton, boxing, bowling, cycling, judo, rugby sevens, squash, shooting, table tennis, weightlifting and swimming.

Kenya won a total of 31 medals from the 2010 Delhi Games; 12 gold, 12 silver and nine bronze.

Paul noted that all disciplines beat the deadline for accrediting everyone travelling for the Games. “What is remaining is the final entry which we will hand in on June 11.”

All trials will be held in the country, under the supervision of NOCK officials to avoid any complains and cases of unfair selection.

“No federation will be allowed to pick any wild cards hence all those hoping to go for the games must go through the trials,” said Paul.