This archive report was first published on 5 November 2019.
Published on November 5, 2019, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) is still weighing its options for a training camp site for Team Kenya ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
The committee's secretary general, Francis Mutuku, revealed that they have discussed the legal and contractual implications of a potential deal with Kurume City governors, but have yet to sign an agreement.
One of the reasons for the delay is that most sports federations have yet to qualify their athletes for the Games, which are scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 9 in Tokyo.
Located approximately 1,086km by road and 879km by air from Tokyo, Kurume City has offered a good sponsorship deal, including accommodation, facilities, and transport, compared to two other potential sites.
According to Mutuku, the selection of the training camp site will be guided mainly by Athletics Kenya, but other disciplines like volleyball may prefer the indoor arena offered by Kurume City.
Additionally, Kurume City has put in place a defined cultural programme with Kenya, and a delegation from Japan is set to visit Kenya in the coming weeks to explore possible business partnerships.
