'Coach' for spiritual fitness

By Omulo Okoth
Kenya's Solomon Gacece is rubbing shoulders with the high and mighty of the Olympic Games Village. Not because he wants to take part in any of the events, or coaching athletes to be in fine physical shape.

He is a coach in his own right, but one who deals with spiritual fitness during the entire period of the Games.
He ensures their spiritual shape remains upright and as close as possible with the Almighty, despite being so far from their homes.

Gacece is among the 19 international chaplains taking spiritual care of athletes at some 10,500 athletes at these Olympics.Only three are from Africa - Gacece, Koffi Magloire Pilabana from Togo and Silas Ngong from Cameroon.

Others come from India, Portugal, Germany, Spain, Guatemala and Mexico. They have a religious services centre at the Olympic Village with chaplains of different faith -Christians, Jews, Hindu, Moslems and Bhuddists.

"There are chaplains in all competition venues including hotels just in case athletes require spiritual support," said Gacece, whose duties include distribution of Bibles, Qurans and other religious books at the venue.

Some athletes often evoke divine intervention before or after competitions. Some point to the sky, others kneel in supplication, while others just mumble in monologue.

"We are on standby in case they want deeper connection with God," said Gacece.