Kapchorwa, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda National Athletics team has entered a residential camp to prepare for the Paris Olympics games scheduled for July 26th to August 11th in France.
The team of over 20 athletes is camping at Trinity Biblical Institute in Kapchorwa under the guidance of the national coach who is also the vice president of technical at the Uganda Athletics Federation, (UAF), Benjamin Njia.
Njia told Uganda Radio Network that the team will be training for six weeks. He explained that preparations commenced on June 14th and will end on July 24th when the first batch of athletes travel for the Championships.
“We believe by the end of this residential training, athletes will be ready to face off with other athletes from different countries during the games, “says Njia.
Njia noted that the Olympic games are special in a way that it’s a highly competitive event, which calls for proper and early preps, and that prompted UAF to have residential camping so that there is better monitoring of the team.
He explains that residential training also promotes teamwork in the sport which is key when it comes to competitions.
He noted that athletes who are at the camp hit their qualification marks during the 2024 track season window which closes on July 30th at midnight. “Any athlete who does not qualify before this date will not be recognized to be part of the Olympic Games,” he explained.
Peruth Chemutai, the Uganda female 3000 meters steeplechase runner, and also the defending champion in her category says, the training is positively imparting her fitness level. “Training is going well and we believe has a team, by the end of the preparations, we will be able to defend our country, “says Chemutai.
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