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Kenyan president flags off team for All Africa Games |
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09:19, July 05, 2007 |
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Wednesday flagged off the largest-ever team to the 9th edition of the All African Games due to begin in Algiers, Algeria, later this month.
The Kenyan team to the All Africa Games left Nairobi with over 270 athletes in various sports disciplines.
The team's budget for the All Africa Games increased from 40 million shillings (600,000 U.S. dollars) four years ago to 150 million shillings (2.24 million dollars) this year.
Speaking after flagging off the team, President Kibaki hailed sports as an avenue of bringing Kenyans together and asked Kenyans to learn to celebrate victory.
"We should all be proud to be Kenyans and support our sportsmen and women who bring glory to the country," President Kibaki said.
Kibaki has pointed out that this year's budget is the biggest investment ever by the government in a sporting contingent representing Kenya outside the country.
The Kenyan team has also grown from 123 sportsmen and women in 12 sports disciplines in the 8th All Africa Games four years ago to over 270 athletes in 21 teams now.
President Kibaki noted that Kenya's participation in the games has continued to grow and diversify to include areas where the country had not been represented at the international level for a long time.
"This is most commendable and we must continue to diversify our sports in order to broaden our competitive areas to cover all fields of sports," the Kenyan leader said.
Emphasizing that the tempo must be sustained, President Kibaki urged the athletes to work even harder to improve on the weak areas so that Kenya can develop into an all-round sporting nation.
He reiterated that the government recognized the importance of sports in the development of the youth, adding that it would provide an avenue where those who have special talents in sports can pursue their careers and exploit their talents to the fullest.
"I assure you that we shall continue to support your efforts and endeavors to ensure that your sporting talent is well nurtured and developed, and that your sports ambitions are realized," he added.
He thanked the team for remaining dedicated and faithful to their sports disciplines noting this is what has enabled them to excel and qualify to represent the country at the continental level.
The Chef De Mission of the Kenyan Contingent Nderitu Gikaria exuded confidence that the team would bring home more medals than ever before given the support they have received from the government.
Source: Xinhua
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