Mutuku reveals Noc-K’s 10-year plan towards Brisbane Olympics 2032

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has leapt into the future, laying down a strategy to prepare young athletes with 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games in mind.

The plan was revealed by NOC-K Secretary General Francis Mutuku, who has emphasized the importance of strategic athlete development scheme with an aim of keeping Kenya’s place as a global sports powerhouse.

In his address to journalists during a session of Anti-doping Agency of Kenya workshop on July 14, Mutuku was clear that NOCK is taking advantage of every single opportunity of events available to achieve the 10-year plan.

“It takes 10 years to build a champion. If we wait until 2030 so that we start thinking about 2032 Olympic Games, we will have missed the train by far – that would be too late. That is why we must plan, and we already have several strategies to achieve this,” said Mutuku.

Importantly, the NOC-K SG wants the war against doping intensified, among other approaches of athletes development.

“We want to prepare in all areas, and ensure we compete clean. We don’t want our athletes to be profiled right from the start line even before they can compete. We are partnering with ADAK and all federations to advance the gospel of clean sports by training and educating all relevant stakeholders in sports.

“We have identified champions of this message, such as legendary rugby player Humphrey Khayange to drive it home as much as possible to our athletes – as role models who have made it while maintaining the spirit of running clean,” he noted.

Mutuku underscored that NOC-K is focusing on the areas the country has been dominating for ages, only to fade away in the recent times – in the 10-year plan.

“We are concerned, and want to reclaim the medals we have lost. We for example look at the Beijing Olympics 2008, the medals we won (6 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze) but we have lost them in the recent editions?

“We are also investing on the areas we have a big potential to shine in, such as sprints, fencing and 10,000m men. Some like fencing we have to heavily fund the special cases of the athletes like Alexandra Ndolo, the first Kenyan set to compete in fencing at the 2024 Olympic Games. She will definitely inspire generations,” explained Mutuku, reminding how 100m African champion Ferdinand Omanyala has inspired more sprinters following his heroics in the distance.

He continued, “we have been telling our affiliate federations that we must not count gains only by looking at the ready medalists. Beyond them, we must think of tomorrow. Sometimes we fail to do this and we end up being exposed, like in the case of rugby where Kenya has struggled after the ‘golden generation’ of the likes of Khayange, Collins Injera and co.”

NOC-K is also investing in athletes through various scholarship programs. At the time of publishing this account, according to Mutuku; 11 athletes were on OS scholarships and seven on ANOCA (the African athletics governing body) scholarships. Additionally, there are NOC-K scholarships.