Eric Odanga
28 August 2008
Nairobi — Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka arrived in Mombasa on Thursday barely 12 hours after receiving the victorious Olympic athletics team which returned from Beijing on Wednesday night.
He will hand over the athletes to President Mwai Kibaki on Friday when the team lead, by the captain Wilfred Bungei, hands over the flag and receive cash rewards from the Head of State.
While welcoming the athletes, Kalonzo who was accompanied by Sports Minister Hellen Sambili, repeated his call that Kenya should diversify into other disciplines away from the track.
"We must maintain a competitive edge and venture into swimming, volleyball, and gymnastics among others to get more medals," Kalonzo said.
Already, the Government is looking into the possibility of partnering with China to develop gymnastics and other sporting facilities.
"You could not have brought smiles to Kenyans at a better time when all though it was all doom.
"We cheered you as Kenyans and not as individuals from different communities. That is how united Kenya was during the Olympics," Kalonzo said.
He added that Kenya's key to improving on the medal tally depends on how much the preparations are going to be taken seriously by tapping talent from an early age.
The Vice President said with a light touch that the Sports Minister was very emotional in Beijing, adding a motherly touch to the atmosphere at the village.
"We can only improve on the achievements," Kalonzo said.
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