Nike delivers kits for Uganda's Olympics team

L-R: UOC president William Blick, Police boss Gen Kale Kayihura and Andrew Sorowen try out the kits. Photo by Norman Katende

Team Uganda to the Olympics games will be dressed by kit manufacturers Nike with the garments arriving in the country for distribution before the team flies off.

Though some of Team Uganda's squad has departed for Brazil, the flag off for the final team is set for Saturday, with the bulk of the 21 athletes; two from boxing, two from swimming and the rest from athletics are set to fly out on Sunday.

For the first time, the team will depart with their kits from Kampala after Uganda Police cleared the costs of flying it to Kampala.

The Uganda contingent has been receiving the kits at the Games Village.

"I am so delighted that Uganda Police is making a huge contribution to the Olympic Games. The team is going to fly Uganda's flag and we are positive that we will have a better performance," said Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura

The Police have the highest number of competitors on Uganda's contingent. 10 qualified for the Games but only five athletes made the cut; the highest number by any club followed by Uganda Prisons with four athletes.

Kayihura was impressed that Police is reaping results in a short time after deciding in 2012 that they were going to boost the Police athletics team.

"We promise to have even more athletes at the World Championships next year. Sports has built the physical, spiritual and mental preparation of our force and the community" he added.

Uganda Olympic Committee president William Blick said that he was positive that the team is leaving the country with the kit which he said was a motivation to the athletes.

"We are leaving as a team in decent uniforms. We are proud and very grateful to Police not only for clearing the uniforms but also helping partner with other departments to develop sports," said Blick.

Police also dedicated an area where the Uganda Police Akii Bua Olympic Centre will be constructed to help groom stars.

Nike are the official sponsors for Uganda Athletics Federation, with a three and half year contract that started a fortnight ago. They replace Errea, who have sponsored the team for the last three years.

"We discussed the contract with Nike and we agreed that they should be able to sponsor Team Uganda to the Olympic Games," said the Uganda Athletics Federation president Domenic Otucet.