•The delegation includes 72 athletes across six sports: 42 in track and field, 13 rugby players, 13 volleyball players, one judoka, two swimmers, and one fencer, along with primary team officials.
•The list also includes three IOC members—Kipchoge Keino, Paul Tergat, and Humphrey Khayange (member of the Athletes' Commission).
Image: CHARLENE MALWA
National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) Secretary General Francis Mutuku said a delegation of 161 delegates will head to Paris for the Olympic Games.
This announcement follows public outcry on social media, demanding transparency regarding the list of delegates.
The delegation includes 81 athletes across six sports: 45 in track and field, 15 rugby players, 16 volleyball players, two judokas, two swimmers, and one fencer.
The delegation will also be comprised of 26 coaches, six team managers, eight physiotherapists, three doctors, three international appointed technical officials and a management team of 26.
The list also includes the three IOC members, Kipchoge Keino, Paul Tergat, and Humphrey Khayange as well as NocK secretary general and Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei, in his role as World Athletics (WA) Vice President.
Team Kenya's leadership in Paris will be spearheaded by Sports PS Peter Tum along with parliamentary sports committee chairperson Dan Wanyama and Julius Murgor, Chairperson parliamentary committee on Labour and social welfare.
Mutuku asked fans wishing to travel to Paris to support the team can obtain invitation letters from NOC-K. However, they will need to arrange their travel and accommodation. "Some fans may face challenges due to the French embassy’s visa criteria," he noted.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, NOC-K established a pre-Olympic training camp in France to help athletes acclimate to the local weather.
NOCK boss Pau; Tergat emphasised the importance of Kenya’s training camp in Miramas, Southern France.
Tergat said: “As a former athlete, I recall the days we used to arrive on the very day of the events with fatigue which would affect our performance.”
“Teams travelled to Miramas early to acclamation to the weather in France. The reception has been unmatched. Athletes are happy and ready to move from Miramas to Paris,” he added.
Currently in camp at Miramas are the rugby team (Shujaa), volleyball team (Malkia strikers), judoka Zeddy Cherotich, two swimmers, sprinters Ferdinand Omanyala (100m), Wiseman Were (400m hurdles), Zablon Ekwam (400m) and the 4x400m mixed relay team.
Tergat also expressed gratitude to the government for supporting the team’s early preparation.
“I thank the government through the Ministry of Sports for the support they have given us in preparing the team,” he said.
Tum highlighted the importance of this collaboration for Kenya’s success in Paris.
“AK introduced a programme that ensures athletes train well. In the last six months, Athletics Kenya set aside funds for a programme that ensures Kenya’s team selected prepare well. Get to camp,” he said.