African Games conundrum; Amina assures athletes of government support

Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed has reassured athletes preparing for the upcoming African Games of their welfare as they continue their residential training camp.

Drama ensued on Tuesday evening as athletes and the women volleyball team players were ejected out of their hotel rooms at the Lukes Hotel over unsettled bills.

Although the government moved in swiftly to address the standoff and consequently athletes readmitted back to the hotel, there have been concerns on how their welfare as they prepare for the continental event.

In a statement released Wednesday, Amina has distanced the ministry from the misery athletes went through and in turn, blamed the respective federations (Athletics Kenya and Kenya Volleyball Federation) for booking athletes in a non-designated hotel.

“It was resolved by the Games Steering Committee that the teams would be accommodated in approved Government-owned facilities including Stadion Hotel, Kasarani, Utalii College, Kenya School of Monetary Studies and Kenyatta University Athletes Village.

It is unfortunate that some athletes were, without consultation booked at a hotel outside the designated facilities,” read part of the statement.

Kenya is set to send a large contingent of 290 athletes in 22 disciplines to the Games slated for Morocco from August 19-31.

Amina has further assured the athletes that the government has enough budgetary allocations to cater for the Games.

“A budget of Sh335,773,111 to cater for all expenses pertaining to the Games was approved by the Sports Fund Oversight Board. This amount will cater for athletes’ local allowances, residential training, air tickets, overseas allowances and accommodation among other expenses,” added Amina.

The teams are set to leave for in four batches with the first batch including Beach Volleyball players already in Rabat.

The second batch will be leaving Thursday with the third group set to depart on Saturday.

Athletes who make the largest group in the contingent will be the last to leave the country on August 23 with their action set to kick off on August 26.

 

 

 

 

 

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athletes African Games C.S Amina Mohamed Moroco

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