By Gilbert Wandera
National Olympic Committee of Kenya ( Nock) chairman Kipchoge Keino (pictured) has challenged local athletes to work extra hard to attain qualifying times for this yearâs games in London.
Keino said the qualifiers have just got tougher and tKenyan sportsmen and women should improve on their performance.
He was speaking at a function where American multi-national Procter and Gamble announced a Sh14 million partnership with Nock. The partnership will see the company assist athletes prepare for the games.
" Olympics standards have just got higher. There are 205 countries trying to send their athletes to the Games. It does not make it easier for our athletes that they have been put in the âAâ class with the big nations," Keino said.
"In this regard, they have to work really hard to attain the qualifying standards because they have to compete with those from developed countries like the United States of America, Germany, Russia and Britain," he said.
He also called on the Government to focus on building sports infrastructure to accelerate development of sports.
pay camping expenses
"While our athletes have grown in their performance, there has been no corresponding growth in infrastructure development thereby stagnating such growth," he said.
He thanked Procter and Gamble for their support and said the money donated by the company will be used to pay for camping expenses for those preparing for the Olympics as well as youth development.
Speaking during the function, Procter and Gamble Vice-President for South East Africa Stanislav Vecera said the partnership will be for the next five Olympic games.
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