Sevens inclusion in Olympics good for Kenya: skipper
13th June 2009, 14:15 WST
Kenya’s Sevens rugby skipper Humphrey Kayange said on Friday that the admission of the sport in the Olympics would enhance the chances of smaller nations winning team medals.
Kayange, who inspired Kenya to four Cup quarter-finals, three semi-finals and one final in the just-concluded IRB Sevens World Series, will be in Lausanne this weekend to make a key presentation before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board.
He is a member of a four-panel bid committee representing rugby at the presentation, which will also involve the six other disciplines which have been short-listed for inclusion in the 2016 Olympics.
“The inclusion of the sevens will expand opportunities for the lesser developed countries to make their impact at the Olympics. I believe Kenya will get a chance of winning a medal,” Kayange told AFP ahead of his departure for Lausanne.
“I didn’t expect us to get to this stage, but this shows that sevens is developing very fast. Any country in the world, regardless of its financial status, can play the sport,” he added.
Rugby sevens is competing along with golf, baseball, softball, karate, squash and roller-sports for the only two slots in the games.
The IOC will meet in Copenhagen in October to make their vote.
NAIROBI
AFP
