Nock allocate funds to teams for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games qualifications

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) has approved Sh75 million to help teams prepare for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers.

The Olympic body hope the funds will boost Kenya’s bid to win more medals at the multi-sport showpiece.

This means that teams will no longer struggle to qualify for the games as they will have money to take part in qualifiers.

The move is a departure from the past where federations have had to depend on government or other sponsors to fund qualifiers. Nock delegates passed the resolution to support teams during yesterday’s annual general meeting.

According to Nock acting secretary general Francis Mutuku, the Olympic body and other sponsors will raise the funds.

“We have approved a budget of Sh75million to specifically help teams qualify for the Tokyo games. We are keen to have as many teams as possible to qualify and also increase our chances of winning many medals,” he said.

Last month, the national under-23 team struggled to take part in the Olympic qualifiers against Mauritius.

The team complained of lack of finances and barely traveled for the return match. With the new funding, the team can be sure of honouring their next fixture against Sudan in March next year.

Mutuku said they are almost at the tail end of talks with partners in regard to the stalled Nock building.

Nock owes contractors more than Sh900million and are exploring at various options to save it from auctioneers including selling the building.

“The debt in the building is rising tremendously but finally we have a solution on how to deal with it. All I can say is that it is a delicate solution we are pursuing and includes either party being paid or negotiating for favorable terms of payment.”

Nock president Paul Tergat said he is proud of the work his committee has done since being elected late last year.

“I am happy with what we have done so far and now we are in the stage of rebranding the association so that once again we can attract sponsors and bring on board stakeholders who will support our work.

“We are determined to build a vibrant association which has the interest of athletes at its core and to do this, we need the support of each and everyone.”

The association’s treasurer Antony Kariuki said the affiliates had requested for more time to look at the accounts which were not approved during the general meeting. “We have asked them to raise issues they require answers,” he said.