Kenya uses online seminars, training to keep athletes focused

NAIROBI - Kenya's Olympic body NOCK will host a virtual seminar to encourage its sportsmen to open up and discuss challenges they have endured due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A majority of the elite sportsmen from athletics, rugby, football, volleyball, and boxing have been forced to stay at home due to strict government directives outlawing group training.

NOCK secretary-general, Francis Mutuku believed the session will help them speak out, share their challenges and see how best they can be helped to cope up economically with their troubles.

"We want to get athletes to speak up about their struggles. The important thing is to create a platform, an avenue they can channel their problems and know what type of help is available and to whom they may reach out to," said Mutuku on Wednesday.

Among the facilitators of the seminar will be legend Paul Tergat, the former world marathon record holder, volleyball coach Paul Bitok, Olympic javelin silver medalist Julius Yego and Rosemary Owino, the coach and captain of the Kenya's Davis Cup team and Geoffrey Kimani, a strength and conditioning coach.

"We want the coaches also to reach out to their athletes and offer them help, reassurance that the hard days will not last forever," said Mutuku.

NOCK will host weekly online conferences to discuss among other things mental health, fitness and injury rehabilitation.

"The cancellations or postponements of sports calendar could also bring about anxiety," said Mutuku.

Kenya's Chief de Mission for the Tokyo Olympics Waithaka Kioni has called on the athletes who have already qualified for the Games to continue training.

"We monitor them and help where possible. They must remain focused and when the health situation improves they should take a short time to be at their optimum best," said Kioni.

"The Games are not cancelled, but pushed back, we must always work towards the goal," Kioni noted.