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Transcript/Script COVID KENYA WINTER OLYMPICS (TV)
HEADLINE: Kenyan Hockey Team Says Olympic Hopes Dashed by Lack of Support
TEASER: The ice hockey team lacked training facilities during pandemic
PUBLISHED AT: 2/09/22 at 7:55am
BYLINE: Brenda Mulinya
DATELINE: Nairobi, Kenya
VIDEOGRAPHER: Amos Wangwa
PRODUCER: Amos Wangwa
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, BR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 2:21
VID APPROVED BY: 2:21
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [[Kenya will be sitting out the Winter Olympics in Beijing after the country’s hopefuls either failed to qualify or pulled out of The Games due to lack of financial support. The ice hockey team did not have a place to train after East Africa’s only ice rink shut down in 2020 because of the pandemic. Brenda Mulinya reports from Nairobi.]]
((NARRATION))
Kenya’s ice hockey team– the Ice Lions – hasn't trained on ice for the last two years. The players say that’s a key reason they are not at the Beijing Winter Olympics representing Kenya.
Hassan Ali has been playing ice hockey for almost seven years now.
((Hassan Ali Shah, Kenya Ice Lions Hockey Player (speaking in English 20 seconds))
“My teammates, they kind of feel sad, because like most of us wanted to be there to represent our country, Kenya.”
((NARRATION))
The Ice Lions have not had access to the region’s only ice rink since it was closed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The government ordered the suspension of all sporting activities and the closure of entertainment venues.
But even before that happened, a lack of financial support made it difficult to train properly.
((Ben Azegere, Kenya Ice Lions Captain (speaking in English, 20 secs))
“The facility we are using is commercial. You have to pay for the facility to train and most of the athletes at the same time cannot afford to pay for it.”
((NARRATION))
Kenya’s National Olympics Organizing Committee – also known as NOCK – is responsible for coordinating Kenya’s international sporting events. Committee officials admit that a lack of funding has made it difficult for Kenya to participate at these Winter Games.
Kenya took part in the 2018 Winter Olympics and had hoped to send three individual athletes and the hockey team to this year’s event. NOCK’s secretary general says the cost of supporting teams at the Winter Olympics is prohibitive for a tropical country like Kenya, but suggested that may change.
((Francis Mutuku, National Olympics Committee Kenya (speaking in English 21 secs))
“We’ve engaged our ministry of sports, culture and heritage. They’ve also agreed with us, that there should be a little bit more focus on the winter sports so that, even if we are not going to be competitive for a podium finish, the fact that Kenya will be represented, and that our flag will be flown at such an important international event, that will be good for us.”
((NARRATION))
The Ice hockey team is hoping the ice rink will re-open soon so they can resume training and keep their Olympic hopes alive for the 2026 Winter Games
BRENDA MULINYA,
FOR VOA NEWS, NAIROBI, KENYA
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 9, 2022 17:32 EST
BylineBrenda Mulinya
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
