Nairobi Diamond Race postponed

BY JONATHAN KOMEN

 

The Nairobi 10km run, which was set for this Sunday, has been pushed to July 27 to allow title sponsors Lap Trust adequate preparations.

Lap Trust Group CEO Hosea Kili said they will officially unveil the sponsorship deal at a dinner gala soon but presented a dummy cheque of Sh5 million.

Kili, however, paid glowing tribute to The Standard newspaper and KTN for highlighting the plight of former world beating athletes, who languish in poverty.

“The Standard and KTN did wonderful journalism. The stories that captured the veteran stars, who are suffering in their retirement after flying the national flag high and made Kenyans proud, served as a wake up call on athletes’ social security. We will fight the government to take care of our stars. But we need to have an endowment fund to cater for their retirement lives,” said Kili.

Last week, the Standard on its pull out Wednesday Life carried a story titled, ‘For some ex-champs, the finish line is a tumble into misery,’ which highlighted the impoverished lifestyles some former world beating stars lead. The story also ran in KTN.

Kili said Lap Trust are interested in ensuring a fulfilled athletes’ lives and will open accounts for Diamond Run winners in all categories, which will be invested and payable as pension at the end of athletes’ career and thus secure future social welfare.

Retired athletes

Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat said it was the responsibility of the Government to take care of its stars.

“We will not sit back and watch our retired athletes rot in abject poverty. I have always advocated for the endowment fund for athletes,” Kiplagat said during a press conference at Riadha House yesterday.

The run is organised by Athletics Kenya Nairobi County in conjunction with Golazo Sports, an international athletics event organiser and the company that plays a role in Diamond League series in Europe.

“Kenyans have proven to the world that we belong to the Diamond League; and that is why we are here today; flying off yet another race that is the first of its kind in Kenya and indeed Africa,” said Kiplagat.

He added: “Lets build Kenyan image using athletes, lets understand branding rights and lets promote our Kenyan brands. We have commissioned a South African marketing firm and we will sign the deal next week.”

Kiplagat also took the chance to lash out at Nairobi County government on their 'failure to promote the city' using such races.