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Kenya's Tergat launches bid for top job at national Olympic committee

Xinhua, April 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

Former world marathon record holder, Paul Tergat of Kenya, on Tuesday announced his bid for the helm of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) ahead of the association's elections scheduled for May 5.

The former five-time world cross country champion will seek to unseat one of Kenya's greatest Olympic athletes, Kipchoge Keino, who has held the seat for the last 12 years after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) proposed that their local affiliate holds elections under a new constitution.

"Keino is well known globally, and his achievements on and off the track have been exemplary," Tergat honored Keino in his speech.

"However, sport is changing by the day with new technologies and advancements and I do believe time has come for a young, dynamic Kenyan to bring in fresh ideas to take on the challenges of a rapidly changing sporting world," Tergat said.

The East African nation faced possible suspension by the IOC after its local affiliate body, NOCK, failed to implement reforms demanded after the country's embarrassing Rio Games appearance.

The IOC had warned it would take "appropriate" action against the East African country if its national Olympic Committee did not resolve a seven-month impasse and adopt a new constitution to pave way for fresh elections.

The IOC assisted in drafting new laws following a national outcry over corruption and the treatment of the Kenyan team at the last summer Olympic Games.

Tergat said that as a member of the IOC, an Olympian and one who has been actively involved in some activities of the games, he believed he has what it takes to become the President of NOC-Kenya.

"I am passionate, have the right skills, leadership experience and general welfare of the athletes at heart. Besides my own desire, I have consulted widely before making this decision," he told his audience which included heads of sports federations in the country.

He said if elected, he will seek to achieve and prosper to greater heights Kenya's name in sports, both locally and globally to complement and enhance what the current officials have done so far.

Tergat unveiled a team of 10 officials from different sports associations who will vie for various positions during the May polls. Endit