NOCK holds ‘arrows for peace’ archery tournament in Ngong

• NOCK partnered the Irene Limika foundation
• The tournament seeks to promote peace among Kenya’s warring communities
• Bomet County emerged winners of the tournament

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) partnered with the Irene Limika Foundation to hold a two-day ‘arrows for peace tournament’ in Kibiku, Ngong, bringing together more than 10 counties over the weekend.

The Archery tournament held its second edition, following a successful inaugural edition held in Mount Elgon in the month of July, with participants drawn mainly from counties in the North Rift.

The ‘bow and arrow’ sport, which is an Olympic event, is being held as part of NOC-K’s sports for peace programme with the objective to propagate the fundamentals of Olympism within the framework of sports.

Sports has shown its potential as a catalyst for peace and to contribute to the harmonious development of people hence offering the best platform for mobilization, connection, demonstration and advocacy for a safe, more equitable and inclusive world.

NOCK’s ambition to contribute to Olympic values

NOCK Secretary General Francis Mutuku being taught how to use the archery equipment. PHOTO/Courtesy NOCK

The “Arrows for Peace” Archery tournament in Ngong is a continuation of NOC-K’s ambitious program to contribute positively to communities under the values of Olympism- Excellence, Respect and Friendship.

In promoting sports as a platform, NOC-K aims at ensuring that talent meets and contributes to community social transformation by building bridges between cultures and fostering the universal values of respect, tolerance, fair play, discipline and going beyond personal limits.

The over 60 participants from Narok, Isiolo, Samburu, Laikipia, West Pokot, Tana River, Kerciho, Bomet, Machakos, Kajiado and Nandi were trained on the use of modern archery sport equipment provided by NOC-K.

Bomet emerged as the top county with eight participants, followed by Isiolo and Narok respectively.

The tournament was staged as part of the national Olympics’ body’s strategic goal of building partnerships.

It partnered the foundation started by former elite athlete and social volunteer Limika, who seeks to bring together communities from various regions in Kenya to coexist harmoniously using sports.

Archery is familiar to the involved communities

One of the participants at the Archery tournament. PHOTO/Courtesy NOCK

The former athlete identified Archery as a strategic sport owing to its familiarity with the said communities, now urged to use it by shooting to win and not to kill.

“We are extremely proud to lead this partnership with Irene Limika Foundation to realize the aspirations of peace using sports because we are convinced that sport, which is structured and playing by the rules can be a tool to realize personal and communal development, education and social integration”, said NOC-K Secretary General, Francis Mutuku.

He further noted that through the initiative, NOC-K will nurture inter-communal dialogues, solidarity and sustainable peace because the Olympic Movement daily uses sport to promote peace and the Olympic principles around the world.

NOC-K Treasurer Eliud Kariuki who was in attendance, awarded the best ten individuals and top three counties and encouraged the athletes to continue with the peace and sport spirit.