TEAM KENYA BOOST: Kipchoge lauds Lotto as team gets Sh40m for Olympic team preparation

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) chair Dr Kipchoge Keino has paid glowing tribute to Lotto for helping Team Kenya prepare well for the Olympics Games.

The lottery firm contributed Sh40 million to the team to help in preparation for the Olympic Games that start on August 5 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Team Kenya’s athletics squad is at High Performance Training Centre at Kipkeino Kazi Mingi Farm in Eldoret and the rugby squad is at the Nandi Bears Golf Club in Nandi Hills.

Nock has always relied on funds from the government to prepare teams for the Olympics, but the intervention from Lotto will help the team prepare well.

Kenya will take the rugby teams (men and women) to the Olympic Games for the first time. Rugby has been included in the Olympics for the first time.

“Lotto, now our sponsors and partners in the Olympic preparations, have made a big contribution. The money will be spent on the team preparing for the Rio Games,” said Keino.

Keino, the 1968 Olympic Games 1,500m gold medalist in Mexico City, lauded Lotto’s gesture to support the Commonwealth Youth Games team to Samoa last year.

World Youth 800m silver medalist Willie Tarbei and World Youth 3,000m champion Davis Kiplagat, now in the squad to the IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland from July 19, were among the triumphant stars in Samoa.

Keino said Nock would ensure other disciplines such as swimming, volleyball, basketball, archery, cycling, hockey, handball, canoeing and even synchronised swimming, Equestrian and fencing will be developed.

“We should also develop other sports apart from track and field events. This is why we are happy to see the men’s and women’s Sevens Rugby teams qualify for the games,” said Keino.

“We need consistent support from the corporate sector. We appeal to sponsors to come and support Kenyan youth by creating opportunities in sports. Sports is important not only for physical fitness but for uniting the youth as one Kenya.”

Olympic-bound men’s and women’s Sevens Rugby teams in residential training camps in Nandi Bears also received a boost from Lotto Foundation in their qualifying rounds.

And Vivian Cheruiyot, the world 10,000m champion, said it would spur Kenya’s performance at the Olympics. “It motivates and helps boost morale. I thank Lotto.

“We thank Lotto who have partnered with us through its Foundation. They have supported us and continue to support the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.”