The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has increased its annual solidarity budgetary allocation to the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) by 10%, bringing the total to $650 million. This move is aimed at bolstering athlete-centered programs and strengthening sports development in the country.

The announcement was made by IOC President Thomas Bach, who is on a three-day official visit to Kenya. Speaking in Nairobi after meeting with Kenyan sports federation officials, Bach emphasized the importance of this increase in supporting athletes.

Bach also Promised he will back Kenya’s war on doping by offering full support in the fight against the vice even as he pledged to lobby for budget increase for the Anti-Doping Agency (ADAK) during his meeting with President William Ruto at State House.

“We will strengthen these supports and this cooperation with you because we have been able to increase our Olympic solidarity budget run by Kenyans. As I said, we could increase the budget by 10%, up to $650 million. This gives us the opportunity to enhance athlete-centered programs and human-centered initiatives,” said Bach.

During the meeting, Bach reiterated the IOC’s commitment to supporting NOCK and challenged Kenya to focus on increasing its medal tally at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

“This afternoon, we invited some of our national federations and affiliates. Together, we form the core of our movement. It was a very productive and engaging session aimed at strengthening this platform, which is crucial for sports development in Kenya,” added Bach.

In his last visit to the country before his tenure as IOC President ends in June, Bach will meet President William Ruto at State House . He will also visit athletes in Eldoret before wrapping up his trip with a visit to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana on Saturday.

Bach also expressed optimism about Africa’s capacity to host future Olympic Games, while noting that no new sports disciplines will be added to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

This marks Bach’s first visit to Kenya since his election as IOC President in 2013. He is accompanied by Mustapha Beraf, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

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