This archive report was first published on 20 August 2019.
Kenya's National Olympics Committee has taken a significant step towards a successful Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics by sending a strong delegation to Japan for the initial Chef De Missions meeting, which kicked off on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, in Tokyo.
Leading the delegation is Kenya's Chef De Mission for the games, Waithaka Kioni, accompanied by NOCK Treasurer Eliud Kariuki and Athlete Representative and Chairman of the Athletes Commission, Humphrey Khayange.
The two-day meeting will cover all the operational details of the event, including various aspects of the competitions and accommodation.
During the meeting, the international delegations will have the opportunity to visit the competition venues, with Japan boasting of having most of the venues ready a year to the event.
The Kenyan team will also explore Kurume City, where Team Kenya will camp during the competition for familiarization and updates on the arrangements so far.
Waithaka Kioni has expressed confidence that the team mandated to manage the 2020 games will deliver exemplary results and erase the ugly memories of the Brazil 2016 Rio fiasco.
"We want to ensure this tradition of blame and excuses for failure every time we are sending a big team for international competitions is not repeated in the Tokyo Games. That's why we are taking every preparation step very seriously," said Kioni.
The National Olympic Committee has launched its road map to the event, providing IOC Scholarships to athletes and forming an elite performance team to monitor their progress.
Federations have also been given funds to help prepare for various qualifications competitions, with the first major qualification program taking place from Monday in Morocco.
