Beijing Olympics 2008

Kenya’s athletic officials have unveiled tough measures to ensure that athletes are well prepared for this year’s Beijing Olympics which will be held in China in August this year.
Athletics Kenya (AK) chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said Wednesday the national team has performed dismally this year in international events particularly in the world cross country championships in Edinburgh.
Kiplagat who named a provisional team of 121 to train for the upcoming Olympic Games said the association would take tough measures on any selected athletes who fail to report to camp.
The association selected 119 athletes who will proceed to camp in Eldoret on May 20 for training ahead of the Olympic Games.
“Every athlete selected must report to camp on May 20 and if they are not there by the deadline then they will be left out of the Olympic trials. We are not going to favor anyone. Whether you are the best in the world today or a favorite in Beijing, you must attend the camp or be left out,” said Kiplagat.
He warned that agents who prevent their athletes from joining up the camp will also be dealt with accordingly. “If an agent, coach or manager stops an athlete from going to camp, then AK shall ban him from representing Kenyan athletes with immediate effect,” he warned.
Kiplagat added that all athletes and managers must submit their plans for the year to head coach Julius Kirwa. “We must have a unified program and Kirwa must know what programs athletes have. Both training and competition programs so that he is able to monitor which athlete has done enough for the season or which athlete needs a break,” he said.
He however clarified that the athletes will still be allowed to compete in grand prix meets but they will have to consult with Kirwa on their season’s plans. “We asked the managers and athletes to present their year’s plans in February and we shall use that as a guideline.”
Kiplagat said the decision to have the athletes in a training camp had been arrived at after a ten hour meeting with local coaches on Monday. The meeting, he said had been convened to help prepare for the games in China.
“In the past, we have been accused of having haphazard preparations and it is our goal to change that. Having a Kenyan athlete get lapped in Addis Ababa was a wake up call and we must heed it, ” he said.

from: xinhuanet.com