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Kenya Olympics body rolls out 5.3 mln USD budget for Rio

Xinhua, July 31, 2015 Adjust font size:

Kenya's national Olympics body unveiled a 5.3 million U.S. dollar budget to send the country's team to the 31st edition of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year.

According to National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK), the sum will be needed to cater for 80 individual athletes and two team sports. The country is aiming at sending the men's rugby sevens team or one of the women's football or volleyball sides to Rio.

Speaking during the launch the fundraising initiative in Nairobi Thursday, NOCK chairman Kipchoge Keino also revealed an advance party from the country had toured Brazil to scout for a suitable training venue.

"I'm sure we are ready to prepare the Kenyan team. The money required to prepare the team starting now to all the federations preparing to qualify. We are looking at between 80 and 100 athletes," Keino told media.

The chairman pointed out the city of Sao Paolo as the most probable place Kenya will pitch camp ahead of the start of the Olympics Games. He added the stated mission was to beat the country's record performance of 6 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals recorded at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"We found out in Rio, there are no facilities unless we go to Sao Paolo where they have facilities. Sao Paolo is far and we require more money," he said.

In the 30th Olympics Games in London, Kenya sent 51 athletes, with 47 among them belonging to the track and field team that won 2 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals. Endi