NAIROBI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Kurume City on Thursday signed a deal to host Kenya's Olympic team for a one-month training camp.
A high powered delegation led by the city's Vice Mayor Toshitaka Nakashima is in Nairobi to secure the deal, which will enable Kenya's top athletes to move earlier to Japan to train and acclimatize before heading to Tokyo for the Olympic Games.
The camp will open in June, four weeks prior to the Games, which will run from July 24 to August 9.
"Kurume City will take initiatives to ensure the Kenyan team is well taken care of during their pre-Olympics camp," Nakashima said here on Thursday.
Amina Mohamed, Kenya's Sports Cabinet Secretary said the government will underwrite all costs to prepare the team for the Tokyo Olympics.
"Kenyans are winners and do not like to fail. We must prepare well in the best environment possible by ensuring our athletes train in almost similar conditions to Tokyo," Mohamed said.
Paul Tergat, Kenya's Olympic body (NOCK) President said the camp will be good and will boost their chances to improve on the medal tally from last outing in Rio 2016 where the country won six gold, six silver and one bronze medals.
Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jack Tuwei said they will send their team to Japan in batches.
"Tokyo Olympics will be all-inclusive in terms of preparation and performance," said Tuwei.
