• “This is our future. We must diversify, just like people run their businesses,” said Mutuku. “If you consider what some of our athletes have achieved without any support, it gives you an indication of how far we can go.”
• At the Africa beach games last year, Mutuku said, most players were from the coast. To extend this, they will introduce the games at primary and secondary schools for gradual progression.
Image: FILE
The National Olympic Committee of Kenya believe diversification is the future of Kenyan sport.
After a successful second beach games edition at Buntwani Park in Malindi on March 29-31, Secretary General Francis Mutuku said beach games are crucial in the agenda.
The beach games involved 1065 athletes (up from 750 last year) in 12 disciplines (two more from last year). They included football, handball, tennis, wrestling, taekwondo, judo, hockey, basketball 3x3, cycling, aquathlon, rowing and beach run. Netball and baseball 5x5 were exhibited at the games.
“This is our future. We must diversify, just like people run their businesses,” said Mutuku. “If you consider what some of our athletes have achieved without any support, it gives you an indication of how far we can go.”
Recent performances by Kenyan teams at continental and global championships leave Nock raring to do more. He fingered baseball (5x5), hockey (5-a-side) and beach handball.
Kenya’s geography was key in Nock’s beach games rollout.
“We have beautiful natural infrastructure and a lot of talent around the beach areas; ocean, lakes and rivers,” said Mutuku.
“We believe introducing these games at the grassroots level will help us get more teams and athletes.”
In addition to developing the sports at the community level, Nock are keen to host the African Beach Games soon.
“We want to position ourselves as a future host for the Africa beach games. We are developing capacity and experience,” said Mutuku.
At the Africa beach games last year, Mutuku said, most players were from the coast. To extend this, they will introduce the games at primary and secondary schools for gradual progression.
Currently, beach games are mostly played by athletes who have roots in regular disciplines. Mutuku cited volleyball, where indoor athletes shift to the beach in the sunset of their careers.
“We want federations to start youth programmes for youngsters and develop them strictly as beach players,” he said. Federations will be key, he emphasised.
“Our work is to put the party together but the owners are the federations. Each sport is being run under its federation leadership, technical guidelines and templates,” he said.
They expect federations to involve the counties. Nock are also working with international sports bodies with beach volleyball and tennis recognised as ranking events by their respective IFs.
“We hope to have over 50 per cent of our disciplines approved as ranking events,” he said.
Nock were impressed by the huge presence of children at the Buntwani games.
“We did not proactively plan for it (presence of kids) but it is happening. Sports is about inspiration and when the young ones watch the older ones participate and compete, they will be inspired to join and grow in self-belief that they can do it too,” he said.
In addition, the games offer opportunities for the blue economy and sports tourism.
“I see a lot of traders selling their goods (at Buntwani), transport service providers abound while the hotels in Malindi are almost full capacity,” said Mutuku.
“A lot of the athletes are visiting the tourist attraction sites like the Vasco Da Gama Pillar and where River Sabaki (Tana River) joins the ocean.”
“I see no greater catalyst, motivation and supporter of sport tourism than sports, either on a practical (participation) basis or by watching. A lot of people here had come for the Easter holidays but are now interested in the games.”
Meanwhile, Mutuku said they are inspired by Strathmore University’s move to lay down beach sports infrastructures in their Madaraka backyard.
“That concept of creating a beach facility at Strathmore has worked well,” he said.
“The teams who travelled to the Tokyo Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games trained at that facility. We are in talks with the government to have a similar facility at Kasarani.”
He expects other stakeholders, especially the counties, to develop similar simple training grounds.