Spirits high as Team Uganda storms Rio

Aug 01, 2016

Uganda, which has 17 athletes, will be in action from that point to the final day when Stephen Kiprotich will be defending his marathon title.

Uganda's swimmers and boxers are already getting a feel of the Rio Olympics.

Boxers Ronald Serugo and Kennedy Katende and their coach Sam Rukundo jetted into Rio de Janeiro last weekend.

Next to arrive were swimmers Jamila Lunkuse and Joshua Ekirikubinza. Their coach Max Kanyerezi arrived on the same day with the boxers.

Team Chaperone Annet Nakamya and Physio Robert Zavuga also arrived last Sunday.

This was five days after Uganda's advance team of chef de mission Ambrose Tashobya and Uganda Olympic Committee administrator Elijah Njawuzi.

The bulk of the team comprising of 14 athletes and three officials departs on Sunday.

Boxing and swimming start on Sunday while athletics begins on Friday next week.

Uganda, which has 17 athletes, will be in action from that point to the final day when Stephen Kiprotich will be defending his marathon title.

Kiprotich will be running together with Solomon Mutai and Jackson Kiprop in the 42 kilometer event on August 21.

The marathon trio leaves on August 15 after making the most of high altitude training in Bukwo and Kenya.

State Sports Minister Charles Bakkabulindi and Sports Commissioner Omara Apita depart on Wednesday.

National Council of Sports chairman Bosco Onyik together with General Secretary Nicholas Muramagi leave on August 16.

More than 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees, including first time entrants Kosovo and South Sudan, are scheduled to take part in the world's biggest sports event.

With 306 sets of medals, the games will feature 28 Olympic sports — including rugby sevens and golf, which were added by the International Olympic Committee in 2009.

These sporting events will take place at 33 venues in the host city and at five venues in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Brasilia (Brazil's capital), and Manaus.

The International Olympic Committee has said a three member panel will make the "final decision" on which Russian athletes will compete.

The team departing on Sunday: Adero Nyakisi (women's marathon), Joshua Cheptegei (5000 and 10000m), Timothy Toroitich, Moses Kurongo and Juliet Chekwel (10000).

Phillip Kipyeko, Stella Chesang, Jacob Kiplimo (5000m), Benjamin Kiplagat, Jacob Araptany, Peruth Chemutai (3000mSC), Ronald Musagala (1500m), Winnie Nanyondo, Halima Nakaayi (800m).

Domenic Otucet (UAF president), Faustino Kiwa (coach), Grace Chesang (coach).

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