KFV lose bids to host Olympic Games qualifiers
What you need to know:
- Only one men’s and one women’s team from Africa will play at the Games in Rio.
Kenya bids to host both the Olympic Games men and women’s Africa qualifiers proved unsuccessful after Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) handed the hosting rights to Republic of Congo and Cameroon.
The Kenya Volleyball Federation, with support from sponsors National Oil, had submitted the bids to host the two competitions in August.
According to a communique from CAVB, the men’s 2016 Olympics qualifiers will be held in Republic of Congo between January 5 and 15 while the women’s event will be staged in Cameroon between February 10 and 20.
“We considered applicants who have never hosted this competition before and have demonstrated availability of facilities that meet FIVB standards and requirements including hotel accommodation for the officials, referees and players,” CAVB president Amr Elwani noted in a letter to his deputy, Kenyan Waithaka Kioni on Saturday.
SET UP CAMP
Kioni, who is also the Kenya Volleyball Federation chairman, confirmed that both the national men’s and women’s teams will set up camp for the competition immediately after the conclusion of the top flight league this weekend.
“Our ladies have a good chance (of securing qualification) despite the strong opposition we expect from the hosts and our traditional north African rivals. At the same time we have overhauled our men’s side and handed a chance to youngsters who should come good in three years. The federation will be awaiting for the support from the Government and National Olympic Committee,” Kioni said.
The men’s team will battle it out with 22 other nations including Algeria, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda and Botswana for the sole ticket to Rio.
The women team, which is now handled by Japheth Munala, will be hoping for a return to the Olympic Games that will be held in Rio de Janeiro next August, after losing out to Algeria for a slot in the last edition of the Summer Games. Only one men’s and one women’s team from Africa will play at the Games in Rio.
