By Erick Ochieng’
National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has boosted Kenya’s road to 2012 London Olympics with Sh35 million.
The money was presented to National Olympic Committee-Kenya (Nock) on Tuesday at a ceremony where NSSF was unveiled as Nock platinum sponsors.
NSSF sponsorship comes barely a month after Proctor and Gamble injected Sh5 million to Nock. The Government has already given Nock Sh200 million to help prepare for the Olympic Games.
Nock is expecting to raise a further Sh30 million from the newly launched Kimbia Card project. Kenya needs Sh500 million to take care of local athletes at the London Olympic Games.
Supporting athletes
“Last year, we sponsored Kenya team to the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique and we thought it would be wise to do so for the Olympics, we will continue to support the athletes,” said NSSF chairman Adan Mohammed, who also urged athletes to save proceeds from their various disciplines with NSSF for future gains.
Nock chairman, Kipchoge Keino thanked NSSF for the support, saying this was a kind gesture.
Keino said athletes need the support of corporates.
He assured that his organisation is doing all that it can to make athletes comfortable ahead of the London Games that commence in July.
Keino is urging athletes to perform well to surpass the 2008 Beijing Olympics performance.
Meanwhile, Nock has urged athletes to pull up their socks as Kenya is only allowed to make an ‘A’ standard qualification for London Games in their disciplines.
Thanked Gacheru
Nock yesterday clarified that it is only in Javelin that Kenya has been allowed to make a ‘B’ standard entry through Julius Yego.
Nock has also thanked boxer Benson Gacheru Nganjiru for qualifying for Olympics in the men’s 52kg flyweight category at weekend in Morocco. Nock said it is still pleading with International Olympics Committee to give Jason Dunford, who has attained a ‘B’ standard qualification in swimming, a chance for the Olympics. The committee also stated that Kenyan athletes in 5,000m and 10,000m currently training at High Altitude Training Centre in Eldoret, might be relocated to Nairobi following heavy rains that is disrupting their training schedule.
“Only the marathoners would be left in Eldoret,”said Keino.
