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Kenya eyes better performance at Rio Olympics

Xinhua, January 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenya expects more teams and individual athletes to qualify for the Rio Olympics as the country seeks to surpass their 2008 Beijing Games performance.

After meeting with Athletics Kenya (AK) officials in Nairobi, Kipchoge Keino, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) Chairman, said Monday, "We need to act fast and ensure the preparations are going on well. "

"That is why we are meeting with the respective teams to see what their demands are and see how best we can come to work together for the common good of the Kenya team," Keino said.

He commended the AK leadership and urged all officials to work together for the benefit of Kenya team and enhance the performance of Team Kenya during the Rio Olympics

Athletics remains the country's golden goose having won the only medals the country has had since the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

In Beijing, Kenya had its best performance claiming six gold, four silver and four bronze medals. In London four years ago, the country had two gold, four silver and five bronze medals. In total, Kenya has had 79 medals from athletics and seven in boxing.

"We need to improve our medal tally and that is why we are taking serious our preparations and see that we enter as many athletes as possible," said Keino.

At the London Olympics, Kenya had surpassed the record set in Beijing by a single athlete. A total of 47 athletes, 27 men and 20 women, competed in athletics, boxing, swimming and weightlifting.

Keino said they expect at least 70 athletes to take part including Rugby Sevens (men and women), which will be making its debut in the games.

Women's volleyball also has a chance to claim the continental spot having missed out in the last two editions in London and Beijing.

"The Rio games are important to us and we want to work on areas we have not been successful before. Even in athletics, you saw that sprinters have all qualified and we want other disciplines to also push for more quotas," Keino said.

"But I must thank our sponsors for giving our young athletes a chance to showcase their endless potential as everything that we do should be for the glory of our country Kenya," he added.

Kenya plans to spend five million U.S. dollars to send the team of over 90 athletes and officials to the games.

Keino's meeting with AK officials discussed among other things the quota for the athletes for Team Kenya, the national trials, residential camp, international competition calendar for athletes, eligibility and qualification period, the marathon team and accreditation.

"The accreditation process for athletes who will take part in Rio has already started and will be closed on March 29. The meeting also agreed that the advance party for Rio 2016 will depart from Nairobi on August 20," said Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei.

Tuwei said the meeting was important to help them plan ahead and ensure that the team is well prepared and avoid challenges that were faced during the London 2012 Games. Enditem