NOC-K visits athletics camps ahead of Tokyo Olympics

AK president Jackson Tuwei (L) and NOCK chairman Paul Tergat during the groundbreaking ceremony for Ulinzi Sports complex and Inauguration of Defence Forces wellness centre at Langata Barracks on October 28, 2020. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

With less than eight months to the start of postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Kenyan athletes are now shaking off holiday rust occasioned by Covid-19 disruptions.

National Olympic Committee-Kenya (NOC) and Athletics Kenya have decided to check on training, level of preparedness and even motivate athletes in the run-up to the competition.

On Monday, they visited Global Sports Communications camp in Kaptagat –where Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and three-time world half marathon winner Geoffrey Kamworor –train.

Commonwealth Games 800m bronze medallist Wycliffe Kinyamal and Rodgers Kwemoi who train at the Kaptagat camp are among six who received Tokyo 2020 scholarships that were issued by NOC President Paul Tergat in Eldoret.

NOC acting secretary general Francis Mutuku, who was accompanied by Olympic Body’s Athletes Representative Humphrey Kayange and Tokyo Olympics general team manager Barnabas Korir, had a talk with Kipchoge and Kamworor in Kaptagat.

CS Sport Amina Mohamed, Sports Consultant Idy Uyoe and Francis Mutuku acting secretary NOC-K during a three days Sports Marketing workshop for Olympic Sports Organization and the National Olympic committee in Nairobi on Tuesday, Jan 28, 2020. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The team then proceeded to Nike Kapsait Athletics Camp in Elgeyo Marakwet where they met two-time Chicago and London Marathon champion Brigid Kosgei.

Korir said they were on a fact-finding mission to understand best how to support the athletes. 

The NOC team also met Olympic silver medallist Julius Yego at his training grounds in Eldoret.