Nairobi — Athletes named in the Olympics and Africa Championship teams are expected in the residential training camp which opens at Kasarani this Sunday.

Wilfred Bungei leaves for Rome today to compete in Friday's Super Grand Prix before moving on to Switzerland where he will be joined by Joseph Mutua and Michael Rotich.

Bungei, a silver medallist at the Edmonton world championships, said he might not be able to return home for the residential training camp.

Rotich could join Bungei in Europe after confirming arrangements with his agent.

"Our plan is train together as a team and hit top form at the same time so that we can qualify for the final before coming up with a strategy," said Bungei.

Bungei is enjoying tremendous form as he displayed during last weekend's Olympic trials in Nairobi when he ran the world's third fastest time at high altitude.

He will compete in his second race on July 17 in Madrid, Spain, before finishing in Paris on August 6.

Bernard Lagat, the world indoor 3,000m champion and Olympic 1,500m bronze medallist, will be running for the Sh78 million Grand Prix jackpot, having already won the first race in the series.

Two-time 400m hurdles world champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, triple Jumper Christian Olsson of Sweden, discus world and Olympic champion Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania are some of the athletes also in contention for the jackpot.

Lagat is involved in the Grand Prix races as part of his preparations for the Olympics and, like Bungei, will be training with Isaac Songok and Timothy Kiptanui in Europe.

Athletes selected after the trials were given a week to prepare for residential training which will run until August 5 when the Kenyan contingent leaves for the Greek capital.

Kenya team's Chef de Mission Alfred Khangati was involved in a round of meetings yesterday, making prior arrangements before the athletes' arrival.

The Africa Championships next week in Congo Brazzaville will be used by some athletes to hit the Athens Olympics qualifying standards and also convince coaches they are in good form.

The women's volleyball team to the Olympics continued with its training at Kasarani yesterday.

The Kenya Volleyball Federation will hold a dinner dance at the Holiday Inn on Friday to raise money for the team's training camp in Cuba.

The KVF secretary general, Jacob Owiti, said the money raised is to supplement the funds provided by National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) for the Havana trip. One such fund-raising event was held at the same hotel last Friday.

The squad of 13 players and four officials leaves for Cuba on July 9 and will train there until July 26. The final team to travel to Cuba and later to Athens for the Olympics was selected last Friday with veteran Esther Chepkosgei, Rhoda Lyali and Jackline Makokha missing out.

The squad is: Dorcas Ndasaba, Catherine Wanjiru, Nancy Nyongesa, Philister Chebet, Leonidas Kamende, Roselida Obunaka, Gladys Nasikanda, Violet Baraza, Abigail Tarus, Judy Serenge, Janet Wanja, Mercy Wesitula and Mildred Odwako. The volleyballers will be making their second appearance at the Olympics having made their debut in Sydney four years ago.