Off the wire
• Kenya's Choge hopes to win medal at World Indoors  • Kenya's Karoki to skip African Cross event for World Half marathon  • Pakistan opposes preconditions for Afghan reconciliation  • NIESR: UK quarterly economic growth slips to 0.4 percent  • French lawmakers approve constitution reform to muscle security across France  • AU warns of new plot by Al-Shabaab to shame troops  • More work needed to cut global traffic-related accidents: UN  • Roundup: NATO to enhance presence in eastern Europe  • Khartoum summons U.S. envoy over draft resolution restricting Sudan's gold exports  • Spanish stock market rises 2.73 pct, closes at 8,143 points  
You are here: 　 Home

Kenya not to withdraw from Rio Olympics

Xinhua, February 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenya's sports minister Hassan Wario said it is up to the government whether to withdraw from the Rio Olympics.

This comes just a day after the country's Olympic officials hinted not to send teams to Brazil for the Games in August if Zika Virus concerns reach epidemic levels.

But Wario said he can only make an "apt decision" based upon the advice given from the health ministry.

Kenya's Olympics chef de mission Stephen Soi also added it is too early to make any pronouncement and has confidence in the IOC's Medical Commission's handling of the crisis.

He urged the athletes who have qualified to continue their preparations for the games and not focus so much on the spread of the virus.

"Kenya is receiving Games preparation updates on regular basis including medical related issues Zika virus. We believe Rio 2016 Organizing Committee is in top of things addressing the menace and sharing their cause of action with the relevant stake holders," he said.

Kenya dominated the Beijing World Championships last year, winning seven gold medals and hopes to build on that performance in Rio.

In London in 2012, Kenya won only two gold medals in 800m (David Rudisha) and 3,000m Steeplechase (Ezekiel Kemboi). The Rio Olympics, the first in South America, are scheduled from Aug. 5-21. Endit