Mutuku implores Africa to work hard towards LA 2028

Africa-Press – Kenya. National Olympics Committee of Kenya Ag. Secretary-General Francis Mutuku has called on the National Olympic Committees of Africa to come up with a game for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Mutuku was speaking while evaluating Africa’s performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics during the 38th seminar for Secretaries-General of African countries, which kicked off on Friday in Niamey, Niger.

Mutuku, who is also the secretary-general of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA Zone V), said the objectives would help Africa increase Africa’s medal tally in LA 2028 to above 50.

Mutuku said African performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games witnessed a decline in the medal tally compared to Rio 2016 where the continent gained a total of 45 medals.

The next best African performance was at the Beijing 2008, where Africa won a total of 40 medals. Kenya continues to dominate the medal standings in Africa having won 10 medals at both Tokyo and Beijing games and 13 medals at the Rio 2016 games.

He asked the continent to increase its participation so as to increase the chances of a podium finish.

“35 of the African Nations qualified for Tripartite Invitation Places. It is given to nations that had an average of no more than 8 athletes in individual sports over the previous two games,” he said.

He added: “Another lesson drawn was that there is an over-dependence on one sport, athletics. Africa needs to invest to diversify in the Olympic Sports program. This could help increase participation and possibly medal tally. 22 of the 37 medals came from the sport of athletics.”

Mutuku pointed that Africa is doing well in individual sports as all the medals came from athletics, boxing, taekwondo, swimming, wrestling, karate, pentathlon, and surfing.

He said the events need to be strengthened and developed more, but not be at the detriment of team sports.

For More News And Analysis About Kenya Follow Africa-Press