Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has said that Kenya is now ready to have a fully-fledged sports academy to tap unexplored sports talent among the youth.

Mr. Musyoka said the country has lots of unexplored sports talent lying idle among the youth as the country whines about joblessness.

He said one of the ways that Kenya can create opportunities for its people is through systematizing and streamlining the sports arena.

“There cannot be a better way of doing so without establishing institutions to harness our great sports potential,” said Mr. Musyoka.

The Vice President was speaking today during the National Athletics Olympic Trials 2012 held at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

The trial organized by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) was to select the Kenyan team that will represent the country in the 2012 London Olympic Games to be held next month in London.

Mr. Musyoka said as a country, Kenyans have not managed to honour its sports heroes and heroines properly in spite of their efforts to place Kenyans on the world map on account of excellence in sports.

“These men and women have been feted more away than at home, we must resolve to make these heroes and heroines the people around whom our sense of unity and triumph as a nation revolve,” said the Vice President.

He said sports is a big business and should be accorded the place of honour and primacy it rightfully ought to occupy in the country’s list of national priorities.

The Vice President said the earnings accruing to Kenya alone, whole sub-economies have not only been established but sustained.

Mr. Musyoka said the sportsmen and women through their earnings have managed to project their good work in the regional as well as national economies in unmistakable ways which he said should continue to receive every possible support from the government.

He said a recent survey commissioned by Brand Kenya Board revealed that Kenyan Athletes are the leading Brand ambassadors for Kenya with a leading score of 60 percent ahead of the Kenya wildlife and game parks which scored 60 percent.

The Vice President said the statistics indicates the importance of Olympics for the country and urged the athletes to focus on making the most of their already good image in the forthcoming London Olympics.

Mr. Musyoka said he still believes that the country can host the 2028 Olympics event and urged the athletes to choose leaderships that would make the country qualify for the bid.

During the trials the Vice President also handed the country’s flag to the Kenyan team that will be leaving the country tomorrow for the Africa Championships in port Novo, Benin.

Youth and Sports Minister Paul Otuoma, reiterated the government’s commitment in supporting sports in the country saying that it will put more resources in athletes so that they can feel proud when they retire.

He said the government will ensure that discipline prevails in athletics so as to safeguard the country’s athletes from unqualified coaches. He added that all foreign coaches operating in the country would be required to present their qualifications and accreditations.

Athletics Kenya President, Isaiah Kiplagat thanked the National Social Security Fund and the National Bank of Kenya for sponsoring the National Olympic Games and called on other organizations to emulate them and assist the team.

Among those present included the Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Kabando wa Kabando, Assistant Minister for Defence Joseph Nkaissery , Members of the Diplomatic corp, NSSF Chairman, Board of Trustees Adan Mohamed and the NOC-K Chairman Dr. Kipchoge Keino.


VPPS
Nairobi
June 23, 2012