By Erick Ochieng’
Kenya has begun preparations for next year’s Special Olympic Games in South Korea and 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles, United States of America.
The country is also preparing a football team for the Africa Special Olympics in Johannesburg, South Africa in October.
“Football competition will be in a seven-a-side form so we are focusing on the energy, speed and stamina,” said John Makathimo, Special Olympics Kenya (SOK) National Director.
A month before the football extravaganza, SOK will take swimmers to a world championship in Puerto Rico.
Kenya will enter a team to contest in an equestrian contest (horse racing) during the Special Olympics in Los Angeles.
The equestrian team will be coached by former equestrian gold medalist Joshua Agare the International Special Olympic Global Messenger who also sits in the SOK board. At the Winter Games, Kenya will participate in floor hockey.
The country will take 16 athletes to the Winter Games. Two teams of 16 players each have been assembled. One team is training in Mombasa, while the other one is at the University of Nairobi.
“We will merge the teams later in the year and pick the final 16 best that will travel to South Korea early next year,” said Agare.
free health screening
To prepare Kenyan side SOK organised a free health screening for the athletes at the Kitui Special School at the weekend to provide vital health services to athletes and area residents.
The screening comprised seven components including fit feet (which embraces the broad spectrum of fun fitness (which involves physical therapy), health promotion to enhance better health and well being through education on nutrition, physical fitness, blood pressure, bone mineral density and determination of body mass index.
