Team Kenya Hoists flag in London

Team Kenya Hoists flag in London

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Updated 1 hrs 24 mins ago

By Omulo Okoth in London

All is set for the London Olympics 2012 with fears of a wet event being allayed following a sunny day Wednesday with the Kenyan delegation witnessing the flag raising ceremony at the Athletes Village Plaza. 

Sports and Youth Minister Dr Paul Otuoma, Permanent Secretary, James Waweru, Secretary Prof Wilson Langat, High Commissioner to London HE Ephraim Ngare, Deputy High Commissioner Jackline Yonga and Olympics attache Dr Joe Sang witnessed as the Kenyan flag was raised at the ceremony which was presided over by the Village Mayor Dame Tessa Jowell. 

Chef de Mission Jonathan Koskei, General Team manager James Chacha and NOCK Treasurer Frida Shiroya joined the Mayor on the stage to sign the Olympic Truces to the balad sound of the Kenyan anthem. Wednesday's ceremony was also witnessed by the Kenyan advanced team here.

Ojher countries whose flags were raised were those of Republic of China, North Korea, Samoa and Surinam. 

London experienced plus 30 degrees Celsius temperature, ending fears of another wet Olympics as was the case in China four years ago.

The heavy rains and biting cold, which made it look more like Winter Games last week suddenly ended, as if the Gods heard the prayers of the Local Organising Committee.

The warmth under the cloudless sky of the English city was significant to the arriving delegations as the days for the Friday opening ceremony drew closer.

As expected, the most visible scene in all venues is air tight security, from the arrival lounges at the Heathrow Airport to the Olympic Village in east London to the railway and bus stations.

To access the athletes’ village, reporters and visitors had to go through five security checks, where reporters and photographers and visitors are searched for any explosives.

Unlike Beijing where people were allowed right inside the village and rooms, there is no access here past the village's main gate. Reporters congregate at a central place inside the main gate but before the security gate.

The Village Mayor assured delegations of comfort during the entire period of the Games.

Industrialist Manu Chandaria, Sports Minister Dr Paul Otuoma and NOCK Chairman Dr Kipchoge Keino were the main guests at the Kenyan Society-organised welcome party at the Royal Overseas League, Park Place, St James Street in London on Tuesday evening.

Other guests were Kenyan top official at the 45 Portland Place, HE Ephrahim Ngare, PS James Waweru and Commonwealth SDecretary general Kamalesh Sharma. Music was provided by Afrika Jambo Band. The Minister assured Kenyans abroad that team was full prepared for these Games and wished them all the best of luck.

The Royal Overseas League was founded in 1910 and it supports international friendship via its membership (15,000 worldwide), clubhouses, arts programmes and educational projects in Namibia and Kenya (school bursaries at Nyandarua High School in Ol Kalou near Gilgil). ROSL's Patron is HM The Queen.

It has 120 members in Kenya and reciprocal club arrangements with the Mombasa Club, Muthaiga Club and the Nairobi Club.