•The President expressed concern that many athletes in the country are increasingly being poached by other countries that have “studied, learned and perfected our skills to our detriment”.
•At the same time, President Ruto called for the diversification of sporting activities in the country.
Image: PCS
The Government will work with all stakeholders to develop a policy that will address the challenges hindering Kenya’s progress in sports, President William Ruto has said.
The President expressed concern that many athletes in the country are increasingly being poached by other countries that have “studied, learned and perfected our skills to our detriment”.
He said the national and county governments will work closely with sports federations, among other players, to develop a sports policy framework that will address the gaps in all disciplines.
“Our athletics dominance is increasingly being encroached upon. We must come up with initiatives to correct the situation,” he said.
The President was speaking when he held a breakfast reception for the Kenyan Olympics team that represented the country at Paris, Olympics, at the Eldoret State Lodge on Thursday.
President Ruto pointed out that the Sports Fund was established to take care of the welfare of sports people and sports.
He gave an undertaking that the fund would not be used for other purposes but to cater for the welfare of our sportsmen and women who he described as the greatest ambassadors of Kenya. President Ruto congratulated the team and said the athletes had made Kenya proud.
“Today, I am extremely delighted to welcome you back from your successful mission in Paris. You understood the calling and the burden of shouldering our collective aspirations and dreams as a nation on the global stage and you didn’t disappoint,” he said.
President Ruto said the athletes once again demonstrated to the world that when it comes to endurance, determination and the unshakable will to succeed, we are at the top of our continent and can match the best in the world.
The President said at position 17 out of over 200 nations and being second in athletics behind the United States, leading in Africa and winning an impressive 11 medals, including four gold, Kenya has every reason to celebrate the remarkable achievements.
“As Kenyans, we should always learn to appreciate the difficult circumstances under which our athletes operate to win medals instead of criticising them,” he implored.
He added: “Let’s criticise our athletes less and celebrate them more. We should always thank and appreciate our success in sports.”
At the same time, President Ruto called for the diversification of sporting activities in the country. He said Kenya should set itself a target of broadening the number of sports it competes in at the next Olympic Games. “By expanding and diversifying our sports, we will get more people participating,” President Ruto said.
The President urged investors to exploit opportunities in sporting activities, which he said remain untapped. He told business people of the opportunities in branding sports events and uniforms that can market the country globally. “Businesspeople are sleeping on the job yet we have untapped potential in the sports industry,” he said.
The Head of State said the government has intensified the war against doping, saying it had tarnished the image of the country.
“We will deal with the doping menace not to undermine our sporting activities, but to deal with the problem,” the President said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua urged athletes to use the sports money to invest in viable income-generating activities, pointing out that this would assure them of a satisfying retirement.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen asked Kenyans to appreciate the work of our sportsmen and women.
“Our athletes undergo difficulties from training to qualification for the Olympic Games. We must celebrate their efforts,” he said.
He urged the private sector to work closely with the government in promoting sporting activities.