Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hon. Ababu Namwamba has arrived in Miramas City, France, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s sporting history. The official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K), Miramas City, and the Miramas Metropole Club is set to take place this weekend, designating Miramas as the official Team Kenya Pre-Olympics Paris Camp.

Hon. Namwamba was warmly welcomed by Miramas Mayor Frederic Vigouroux and Mayor of Salon de Provence Nicolas Isnard and the NOC-K Executive, led by President Dr. Paul Tergat. Notable NOC-K executives present for the signing are SG Francis Mutuku, Treasurer Eliud Kariuki, CDM Paris 2024 Shadrack Maluki, CEO Wanjiru Karani, and the 800m world record holder David Rudisha.

During his stay, the CS will explore the state-of-the-art Miramas Metropole Facilities, encompassing an Indoor Track, Football and Rugby pitches, Tennis courts, Outdoor Warm-Up track, and Boxing and Taekwondo gyms. These facilities have served as the training ground for Team Kenya since last year.

NOC-K intends to continue utilizing these world-class facilities for their pre-Olympics preparations. NOC-K is set to send the next team next month as part of an ongoing commitment to prepare and acclimate athletes, to fully settle the entire Team Kenya contingent in camp in June, in anticipation of the Olympic games in July.

The presence of the CS underscores the Government’s commitment to fostering bilateral partnerships between Kenya and France, as well as supporting the collaboration between NOC-K and its international partners. In conjunction with the official MOU signing, four Team Kenya sprinters are gearing up to kickstart their season at the 2024 Miramas Metropole-Silver Indoor Meeting this evening.

Commonwealth Champion Ferdinand Omanyala and Mark Otieno Odhiambo will participate in the 60m race, setting their sights on the World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled for March 1 to 3, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland.

Omanyala, who equaled his Kenyan National record in the 60m race last year, expressed his excitement about the upcoming season. He highlighted his strategic approach, new technical bench, and the support of sponsors such as VISA GLOBAL and Toyota as crucial elements in his pursuit of Olympic glory.

The renowned 400m Hurdles athlete, Wiseman Were, is also set to compete, sharing his motivation to qualify for his first Olympics. Boniface Mweresa, boasting the fastest time on paper with a PB of 46.22, will join Wiseman in the 400m race.

This weekend’s activities will not only include the athletes’ participation in the Miramas Metropole-Silver Indoor Meeting but also intensive relay skills training. Team Kenya aims to be fully prepared for the Bahamas World Athletic Relay in May and the World Indoors Championship.

The Miramas itinerary goes beyond the track, with planned visits to local schools and meetings with the Kenyan Embassy to France, reinforcing the broader cultural and diplomatic impact of this historic collaboration.