The dissension surrounding the hosting venue of the Rio Olympics athletics trials has been put to rest with the organizers settling on Eldoret.
Despite the elite athletes and Athletics Kenya expressing their reservations over the Eldoret venue the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) has settled for the Rift Valley City of Eldoret.
The trials slated for June 29-July 2 at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium will be used to select Kenya’s national athletics team for the Rio Olympic Games to be held in August in Brazil.
This will also serve as the fifth round of the 2016 Safaricom Athletics series.
NOCK chairman Kipchoge Keino says the hosting ground in Eldoret is suitable for the trials, where the country expects to select over 60 athletes for the games.
The legendary runner said since the stadium does not have a warm up track they will utilize the Moi University School of Law track, which is 7.7 km away from Eldoret town.
“We will make it convenient for athletes to arrive on time for races from the Moi University School of Law warm up track,” said Keino.
Keino said they have agreed with the Uasin Gishu County Government to hasten the preparations at the stadium in time for the event so that it can also host a successful world class championship.
Athletes had expressed their reservations about the event being hosted in the North Rift town which is the region where majority of the runners come from over the lack of a warm up track and other logistics to hold such important event in Eldoret.