Kenyan athletes arrive in Birmingham ahead of Commonwealth Games

• Kenya will have more than 140 athletes competing
• The Commonwealth Games start on Friday
• Most athletes will fly to the UK directly from Oregon

The final batch of Kenyan athletes to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom, leave the country on Tuesday evening ahead of the ‘Club Games’ which are scheduled to start Friday.

Already close to 100 Team, Kenya athletes have already arrived in the British city.

The teams already in the UK are Hockey, Lawn bowls, Triathlon, Judo, Wheelchair Basketball, 3×3 Basketball, Boxing, Table tennis, Badminton, Wrestling, Swimming, Beach Volleyball, Para-Athletics, Athletics, Para-powerlifting, Cycling, Para-cycling and rugby.

The team has been travelling in a staggered fashion to limit the possibilities of mass infection of the coronavirus and to also ensure the best management of athletes.

Team Kenya has a broad representation of sports disciplines, including para-sports in its 17-strong sports disciplines

“We are very excited to receive our teams streaming into the various Village Camps of the Games. Team Kenya will be staying in 3 villages; Birmingham University to Warwick and NEC Hilton Hotel. They will be residing, training and competing for the rest of the duration of the Games,” said John Ogolla, Team Kenya’s Chef de Mission.

He added; “The athletes have settled down well after receiving their accreditation and are all eager to perform exceptionally well during these global Games.”

Training facilities already booked

Most of the teams already booked their training venues through the Training Booking System of the Games and are beginning to have a feel with very positive feedback.

The Teams were recently kitted with their broad range of training and competition as well as a general kit from the Kit sponsor, Nike, during a ceremony held at their residential training camp in Kasarani.

The Government also provided a ceremonial kit for the Team besides disbursement of their local allowances before departure.

Most of the athletes expected in Birmingham as from Tuesday are those from Oregon, where Kenya finished fourth at the just concluded World Athletics Championships.

This signals the country’s intention to make this one of its most successful outings in terms of preparedness and management of the Team.

The country is looking for improved performance in Birmingham especially on track after the disappointment at the World Championships where the country finished fourth overall, a dip from a second place finish in Doha 2019.

The country will also seek to expand its medal-winning horizon away from the track. At the 2018 Games in Gold Coast, Australia, Kenya’s lone medal out of track and field was from boxer Christine Ongare.

Team Kenya athletes in Birmingham:

Marathoners; Margaret Wangari, Stella Barsosio, Purity Changwony, Michael Githae, Eric Kiptanui, Jonathan Korir (Captain)

Wrestling: Sophia Ayieta, Mathayo Mahabila, Linus Masheti- Coach

Wheelchair Basketball: Caroline Wanjira, Eunice Adhiambo, Rahel Akoth, Stella Cherop, Alfred Simiyu- Team manager, Andrew Kihumba- coach, Henry Caleb-Mechanic

Athletics: Boniface Ontunga, Cornelius Kipkoech, Dan Kiviasi, Elias Ngeny, Hesborn Oduor, Kibiwott Kandie, Maximilla Imali, Millicent Ndoro, Mike Mokamba, Samuel Imeta, Sheila Chepkirui, Veronica Mutua, William Mbevi, Wiseman Were,

Rugby: Herman Francis, Geoffrey Kimani, Kevin Wambua, Daniel Nzomo, Francis Lamech, Johnstone Makanga, Vincent Onyala, Nelson Oyoo, Levi Amunga, Edmund Stephen, Antony Mboya, Eric Ogweno

Athlete Safeguarding Officers: Janeth Jepkosgei, Andrew Amonde