Govt settles allowances as athletes fly out

PHOTO | DENNIS OKEYO | NATION | FILE Commissioner of Sports Gordon Oluoch. Mr Oluoch said all the disciplines that were to leave last night and those leaving Thursday were to receive their allowances last evening.

The government finally delivered half of the overseas allowances to Team Kenya Wednesday as the last batch prepared to leave on Thursday for the Commonwealth Games due July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch said all the disciplines that were to leave last night and those leaving Thursday were to receive their allowances last evening.

Each of the 195 athletes was to get Sh522,000 but the government only paid half of the amount while the rest will be delivered to them in Glasgow.

“Those who left earlier will have their allowances delivered to them,” said Oluoch. “We had difficulties getting foreign currency from the banks this was the cause of the delay.”

Sprints and field events athletes left Wednesday evening while the rest of the contingent will leave today save for some athletics team members who have requested to leave later.

The national 200m record holder Calvin Nkanata, who is based in the US, is set to link up with the team in Glasgow. He will be teaming up with rugby player turned sprinter Collins Omae in the 200m event.

Badminton, cycling (Time trial and road race), lawn bowling, triathlon, Elite Athletes with Disability and wrestling teams leave on Thursday.

Some athletes in Europe

Athletics coach Boniface Tiren said the men and women’s marathon teams that includes men’s defending champion John Kelai will leave the country today.

Apparently, some four members of the cycling team and an official are yet to get their accreditations.

However, National Olympic Committee of Kenya says it is working on the issue so the team can leave before Sunday. The cyclists include David Kinja and Doreen Musoliza.

Most of the middle and long distance track athletes are already in Europe for the Herculis Monaco Diamond League event due Monday.

The 800m threesome of Eunice Sum, Janeth Jepkosgei and Agatha Jeruto are in Monaco alongside 800m champion Fergusson Rotich.

Olympic and World record holder David Rudisha, who will team up with Rotich, was reportedly in Germany after setting a world lead time of 1:43.34 in men’s 800m race at the Glasgow Grand Prix Diamond on Saturday.