SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MWAI KIBAKI, C.G.H., M.P., PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE PRESENTATION OF THE NATIONAL FLAG TO THE KENYAN TEAM TO THE 9TH ALL AFRICA GAMES IN ALGIERS, ALGERIA AT STATE HOUSE, NAIROBI ON 4TH JULY, 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to preside over this flag presentation ceremony to our distinguished teams to the 9th All Africa Games.

As you are all aware, International sports have continued to provide an effective platform where the youth of the world meet to showcase their athletic talents and display their national costumes and culture. This is also the spirit behind the All Africa Games.

They provide a forum where the best athletes meet in a competitive atmosphere, while at the same time fostering friendship among the competitors despite their apparent rivalry in sports. Indeed, these are the ideals envisaged by the founding fathers of our continent when they founded the All Africa Games in 1965.

As you proceed to Algiers for the Games, I have no doubt at all that you have been well prepared for the championship. I am also glad to note that my Government has been part and parcel of your preparations, and that you have put together teams which are well prepared for the task ahead. I assure you that we shall continue to support your efforts and endeavours to ensure that your sporting talent is well nurtured and developed, and that your sports ambitions are realized.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My Government recognizes the importance of sports in the development of our children and the youth. We also appreciate that sports is an essential part of life and is increasingly getting recognized as a human right. It is, therefore, the wish of the Government that sports be engendered in our national lifestyle so that all of us participate in it because of its benefits to us such as physical fitness, self discipline and good health. It is also the wish of the Government to provide an avenue where those who have special talents in sports, like yourselves, can pursue their careers and exploit their talent to the fullest.

In this regard, I am pleased to note that Kenya's participation in the All Africa Games has continued to grow and diversify. For instance, four years ago, Kenya presented 123 sportsmen and women from 12 sports disciplines in the 8th All Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria.

This time round, the number of athletes has more than doubled to over 270 from 21 teams. The budget for preparation of the teams has similarly increased from 40 million shillings to more than 150 million shillings. This is a demonstration that sports are, indeed, growing and Kenyans are participating in a wider range of sports activities than was the case before. This is most commendable, and we must continue to diversify our sports in order to broaden our competitive areas to cover all fields of sports.

In this regard, I am happy to note that you have prepared teams in areas where we have not been represented at the international level for a long time. This diversification will bear fruit in the long run as we shall be getting medals and honours from a wide variety of sports.

We must sustain the tempo and maintain what we are good at, while working even harder to improve on our weak areas so that we can develop into an all-round sporting nation. This can, and will be achieved if we remain focused on the sporting targets that we want to achieve for ourselves and our country.

Finally, I thank all of you for remaining dedicated and faithful to your sports disciplines. This is what has enabled you to excel and qualify to represent our country at the continental level. Indeed, a lot of resources have been invested, and will continue to be invested, in you and your careers. The only thing we ask you to do to in return is to go out there and win the medals.

With these remarks, I take this opportunity to wish you great success in the championship and a safe journey to Algeria and back.

Thank you and may God bless you all.