Athletics Kenya (AK) Kericho branch chairman Japheth Kemey has lauded athletics camps for the role they play in athletics development.

Kemey said that the camps have enabled Kenya to produce world-class athletes adding that those who mooted the idea for establishing camps were out to up sports for posterity.

He said that the camps have also played a major role in helping children to identify and nurture their talents with a view of taking sports to the next level.

He added that it is in those camps that these budding athletes hone athletics skills in order to compete in global events.

Speaking in Kericho town, Kemey singled out athletics camps in Kericho County saying they have produced international athletes.

Kemey divulged that some people had utilized their limited funds to set up the camps, which are now providing exceptional training to the up-and-coming athletes. 

“We laud some people who have used their resources to establish the camps.

“We are proud of them because as a result we currently have world-class athletes”, said Kemey.

Kericho County has produced some of the world’s top athletes, thanks to training camps such as Lemotit, Kalyet and Sigowet.

However, according to Kemey, other more camps are lacking the necessary resources to ensure their athletes are given the best possible training.

The AK official said that camps do not have facilities, including playing and training grounds, plus athletes’ requirements saying they should be supported for the sake of the sports.

“Camps lack many essential things to run smoothly. So they deserve help from both the national and the county governments the sake of athe development of athletics”, he asserted.

Kemey urged the two governments to move with speed and allocate funds towards support of the camps.

He implored athletics camps to adhere to the rules of AK, warning that any camps found to be in violation of these regulations would be closed.

The Athletics Kenya regional boss also said that age cheating among athletes so as to compete unfairly with others will not be condoned.