Legend Keino feted: Athletics great makes Olympics history as he receives Laurel Award

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (R) applauds as Former Kenyan athlete Kipchoge Keino acknowledges his award during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP PHOTO

Just like he always led on the track during his heydays, track legend Kipchoge Keino once again opened a new chapter in Olympics history when he became the first ever athlete to receive an Olympic Laurel Award.

The two time Olympic champion, who is now the National Olympic Committee-Kenya President received the award during the opening ceremony from International Committee Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach, who is also a former Olympic champion.

He received the award after the colourful event with Team Kenya having marched past led by archer Shehzana Anwar, who was given the duty of carrying the Kenyan flag.

Team Kenya was represented mainly by the rugby players, swimmers and boxers as most of the track and field athletes will arrive here today. The Olympic Laurel Award was created by the IOC to honour outstanding sportsmen and women for their achievements in social engagements.

The 76-year old Kenyan Keino had to roll back the years as he was led to the stage to receive the award and he was required to run or at least jog up to the podium where the IOC president and other officials were waiting to fete him.

To run he did and it showed that despite his age he can still show what he used to do in times gone by when he won Kenya many medals on the track.

After receiving the award Keino thanked his supporters, then told those inside Maracana Stadium that he had a humble request.

“Join me and support all the youth of this world to get the basics of humanity: food, shelter and education. Education not only empowers our youth to be better citizens and leaders of the future, but it will also help them make a positive change and a mighty difference,” Keino said amid applause.

Before he was awarded, a film was shown to the crowd outlining the outstanding work that the Kenyan had done and it was no brainer that he received an applause from the many fans that thronged the famous Stadium after accepting the award.

After retiring, Keino took up social responsibility work and opened a children’s home which is home to many kids, who lost their parents with others even leaving the streets to find shelter in the home in Eldoret town.

In 1999, he opened the Kip Keino School in a marginilised community that lacked schools, offering more than 300 children aged between 6 to13 a chance to get an education.

The Kenyan track legend also owns the Kip Keino High Performance Training Centre where many athletes have used to nurture their talent. The Kenya track and field team that will be competing at these Olympics have been training at the Centre.

The Olympic Laurel award will be given every fours and it remains to be seen who will receive it in Tokyo Japan during the 2020 Games. The award is given to those with achievements in education, culture, development and peace which they have done through sport.

Another track legend Tegla Loroupe, who is here as a Chef de Mission for five refuges, who will be competing at the Olympics under the IOC flag will surely be candidate for the award in the next Olympics even not 2020 edition.