Brian Komen and Timothy Cheruiyot compete in the men's 1,500m at the Paris Olympics/ FILENational Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) First Vice President Barnaba Korir believes the Committee’s three-day strategic forum on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will lay a strong foundation for the country’s success Stateside in three years.
The seminar, launched on Wednesday, brings together presidents and secretaries general from national federations.
It’s themed “Getting the Basics Right for LA 2028 Olympic Games” and aims to set in motion Kenya’s blueprint for success at LA 2028.
It provides a platform for administrators to discuss and align their efforts.
Korir said the forum aims to craft a comprehensive strategic plan targeting global championships, beginning with the 2026 Youth Olympics and extending to the LA 2028 Games.
“We want to have a strategic plan that will encompass everybody. We’re focusing on upcoming major events like the Youth Olympics and, of course, LA 2028,” said Korir.
The 2026 Youth Olympic Games are scheduled for Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026, while the Los Angeles Olympic Games will take place between July 14 and 30, 2028.
Korir said the strategic vision stretches beyond LA 2028, with a long-term outlook towards the 2032 Brisbane Games.
“It’s not only about LA 2028 but a plan that continues up to 2032,” he said. “For any institution to succeed, you need to have a plan that drives its programmes and ensures the right people are in place to nurture talent and support all sportsmen and women.”
NOCK secretary general Francis Karugu said the Committee’s focus will be on federations with genuine medal potential for Los Angeles, ensuring they receive the necessary backing.
“We will target federations we believe can win medals in LA,” said Karugu. “As we identify these federations, we’ll ensure they access Olympic Solidarity funds to aid in team preparations.”
Karugu said NOCK’s support will not be limited to funding, but will also focus on capacity building and coaching development.
“We also need to focus on coaching, skill development, and the growth of coaches so that the programme continues progressing through to LA 2028,” he said.
NOCK’s Resource Mobilisation Commission chairman, Philip Ochola, observed, “It takes four years to prepare an athlete and a team. We need to start our preparations for LA 2028 now.”
“A challenge that came up — and one we as a commission must address — is that federations require a lot of equipment to prepare their teams,” he noted. “Some of this equipment, depending on the sport, is quite expensive.
