National Olympic Committee of Kenya move to stage the 2016 Olympic Games trials in Eldoret has been met with mixed reactions.
On Tuesday, NOC-K chairman Kipchoge Keino held a meeting with Governors Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet) in Eldoret to finalise the plans to have the Olympic trials at the Kip Keno Stadium from June 14-15
Team Kenya will also pitch camp in the region for their training ahead of the Olympic Games set for August in Brazil. Kipchoge said the region is suitable for training the athletes since tartan, grass and marram are available.
He said the traditional University of Eldoret track and Kipchoge Stadium will be training grounds for track athletes while marathon team will have their camp at their usual grounds in Iten.
Rugby Sevens will be hosted at the Nandi Bears Club, where they trained before heading to South Africa for Olympic qualifiers. AK Nairobi branch chairman Barnaba Korir said they discussed the move with NOC-K and agreed on the plans.
“The decision made between AK and NOC-K to hold trials in Eldoret is the best at the moment. Anytime such an AK meet is held here, it attracts huge crowds— perhaps more than Nairobi,” he said. Two-time Boston marathon winner Moses Tanui said the wait is long overdue since most of the champions come from the region. “We have been advocating for it and now that it has been decided, we are very happy. It is good to have the champions run at home and get the blessings before proceeding to the Olympics.”