The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) officials who travelled to France last week are expected back in the country on Wednesday.
NOCK president, Paul Tergat, led the Kenyan delegation to the city of Miramas in Southern France to seal a pre-Olympic Games camp deal for Team Kenya.
The Olympic Committee confirmed in a statement that Tergat and his team would jet back into the country late Wednesday.
“NOCK President Dr Paul Tergat and the Executive Board are expected to jet back to the country this evening after a successful visit in Miramas, France,” read the statement.
“The visit, which is the second this year was to get an MOU signed with the world-class stadium as we head to Paris 2024 to ensure Team Kenya has one of the best pre-camp training facilities before the Olympics.”
Miramas is home to Stadium Miramas Métropole, which hosts international athletics competitions and other sports events including Diamond Leagues, handball, basketball, boxing, fencing, judo and badminton.
NOCK confirmed on Monday that Tergat had arrived in France alongside secretary-general Francis Mutuku and Barnaba Korir who chairs the Athletics Kenya (AK) youth development committee.
The trio headed straight to Miramas to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a pre-training camp for Team Kenya in the city ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.
NOCK shared a photo of the three officials attending a cultural festival in the city on Sunday.
“A sunny Sunday, saw them tour the city as it hosts Miramas Festival, where organizations demonstrate their activities to the residents.”
NOCK said if the agreement goes through, pre-camps will start immediately with the first batch of Kenyan sprinters expected to jet out in October.
“Each team will, possibly, travel to enjoy the world-class facility at Miramas Metropole Stadium as we count down to Olympics.”
The partnership aims at refining individual athletes and teams to enable them to perform well at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The MoU also incorporates coaches' training, technical support and infrastructure development.
Earlier in the year, 11 Kenyan sprinters were hosted at the Stadium Miramas Metropole for a month-long technical training camp, following a partnership between AK and the Miramas Athletics Club.
The athletes were among those that represented Kenya at the World Under 20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.
The facility has officially been approved by the Organising Committee of the Olympics as a preparation centre for the games.
Edited by Tony Mballa
