US envoy visits Eliud Kipchoge at Kaptagat, pledges support for athletics, basketball

US Ambassador Kyle McCarter and his wife Victoria (centre), with Marathon Champion Eliud Kipchoge at Kaptagat Training Global camp in Elgeyo Marakwet County. [Peter ochieng, Standard]

US ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter has said the US government will collaborate with Kenya to improve athletics and basketball in the coming years.

Addressing road and track athletes at Global Sports Communication in Kaptagat, Elgeyo Marakwet County, McCarter said that US will collaborate with Kenya to promote sports and integrity as well.

“US government will from next year collaborate with Kenyan government to improve sports and National Basketball Association will be visiting Kenya to check on the sport and see how they can improve and make it better,” he said.

McCarter who was accompanied by his wife Victoria, hailed Olympic marathon champion and World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge for inspiring Kenyans.

“We wanted to meet Kipchoge not because he is a world record holder but because he is a good example to the future generation,” said McCarter.

The envoy who was on a private visit urged local athletes to follow after Kipchoge and take athletics seriously saying the sport has brought fame to Kenya.

 “Kenyan athletes have been doing well in world competitions which has earned Kenya a global fame, this was a private visit and I wanted to come and have a feel of where the athletes train for them to be successful,”he said.

He said the NBA delegation will visit Kenya to help improve the sport locally, adding that basketball has become big in Kenya.

Trained with athletes

Kipchoge said that it was an honour to be visited with the envoy to know where he has been training with his colleagues.

“As an athlete, it is a privilege to host a visitor of such calibre in our camp, he wanted to know where I train and am glad for his visit,” said Kipchoge.

Also at the Global, during the visit was world half marathon record holder Geoffrey Kamworor among other athletes.

The envoy also joined Kipchoge and other athletes on the track to train.