IOC pledges support to Tergat

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will soon resume funding to the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) after promising support to the new office which was elected last Friday.

In a congratulatory letter to new Nock president Paul Tergat on Friday, IOC president Thomas Bach hailed the election as the beginning of a new chapter in the Olympic Movement in Kenya.

Tergat, 48, was elected unopposed after the General Assembly knocked out his only challenger Patrick Muyah during the September 29 process in Nairobi.

“Let me assure you of the IOC’s full support and assistance in this important task. The IOC NOC Relations Department and Olympic Solidarity will liaise with you shortly to review all details with Nock,” read the letter.

The elections were initially scheduled for May 5 but were adjourned after the High Court granted the Kenya Taekwondo Federation, who had been barred from the exercise, an injunction.

Tergat, a former world marathon record holder, who won the World Cross Country Championships a record five times, took over from the long serving Kipchoge Keino who chose not to defend his seat.

Tergat officially took over at Nock on Wednesday during a hand over ceremony at the body’s offices in Nairobi.

Bach had dispatched former South Africa Olympic Committee head Sam Ramsamy to oversee the polls.

“This is the end of a long process initiated a year ago, in agreement between the IOC, the Nock and the Government authorities to resolve the conflict situation that had emerged after the Olympic Games Rio 2016. But this is also a beginning to a new chapter in the Olympic Movement in Kenya,” Bach added in the letter.

The international body further indicated that it will help Tergat rebuild the association. One of Tergat’s immediate tasks will be to prepare the country for next year's Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

“It is my pleasure to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on your election on September 29 as President National Olympic Committee of Kenya following the successful conclusion of the Nock Elective General Assembly which took place under supervision of IOC member Sam Ramsamy,” the letter added.

Kenya finished ninth, with 25 medals inclusive of 10 gold, during the last Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow and Tergat says the immediate target is to better that performance in Gold Coast.