Chris Musumba
9 January 2008
Nairobi — At least seven major athletics training camps have been shut down in Eldoret, Kenya's cradle for track and field talent, while a few are still open but operating at half their capacities.
This follows the ethnic flare-up over the controversial general glection results. Eldoret and Iten were among the worst hit areas as camp owners evacuated their athletes to safety in either Nairobi or Europe.
Only the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) sponsored High Altitude Training Camp in Eldoret has remained open but under tight security with at least 40 athletes, 10 of whom are foreigners.
Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat urged the camp owners still operating not to panic and weigh the situation first before making decisions.
"The IAAF is worried about the 10 foreigners at the High Altitude Training Camp in Eldoret but we have advised them that everything is under control and there will be daily updates on the situation. For now, I urge caution," said Kiplagat.
World half marathon champion Lornah Kiplagat, who also runs a training camp in Iten, has evacuated her athletes to Europe. Fifteen athletes were evacuated on a chartered flight from Kiplagat's High Altitude Training Centre in Iten, about 30 kilometres north of Eldoret.
Lucas Sang, who competed for Kenya at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, was killed in Eldoret while world marathon champion Luke Kibet was injured in the skirmishes but is out of danger.
Patrick Sang, who owns the Global Sports Training camp in Kaptagat, has over 30 athletes but was forced to suspend normal operations and close down for his own safety and that of his people.
"We had closed down on December 22 to allow the athletes go away for Christmas but the few who remained were forced to flee after the polls and we have not been able to open again. Those who had left earlier are unable to return because there is no transport while food and other services are also scarce," he said.
The same case has been reported at nearby camps including the Pace Management Camp and many other smaller camps in Kaptagat.
"At the moment, we are returning to normalcy but, it is not yet safe for these athletes to resume training," said Patrick Sang.
After experiencing difficulty in coordinating and communicating with its athletes, there was little transaction at AK secretariat as few managed to travel to Nairobi to get clearance to go abroad to honour their invitational meetings.
Kiplagat said they have cleared Mercy Njoroge (to France), Philomen Kiprop (Mumbai), Deborah Chepkiroi Mengich (Mumbai), Patrick Ivuti, Martin Lel (Europe) while Julius Bungei, Kenya's 400m hurdler travelled by road from Eldoret under police escort to pick up his scholarship letter and is due to fly out today to Mauritius to the IAAF high performance camp for training.
AK secretary general David Okeyo, who is also Kenya's chief de mission to the Beijing Olympics, said he expects the situation to calm down saying it was too early to comment on it on whether it will disrupt Kenya's performance in the Games.
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