Athletes sensitized on investment as City race winners are awarded
Athletes have been urged to make the most of their careers’ peak years of activity and to invest some of their winnings.
Athletes typically have an active career between the ages of 17 and 35. Between the ages of 22 and 35, a person’s career reaches its pinnacle or, more precisely, what is probably the prime time for the competition. One of the few athletes, who are still successful in their late years, is Eliud Kipchoge.
But speaking on Friday during the awarding of participants of the 2022 Eldoret City Marathon, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii said sportspersons need to consider investing as a priority in their careers.
Bii said, like any other employment, sports has a retirement period, and that it is important to save and invest in preparation for the time out of competition.
“These monies, especially those won in sports, are very hard to get. For athletes, there’s an active period, then there’s time towards retirement when age is catching up,” Bii said.
“This is the time when even if you still want to compete, age is catching up and you may not be as strong as you have been. It is, therefore, very important to invest and secure our time out of competition,” the Governor said.
The county chief said his government is working to find ways to partner with stakeholders to sensitize sports people on the need to take care of their social security after retirement.
Also speaking at the award ceremony, county assembly chair of the sports committee, Gilbert Lagat, said the legislature is ready to support the executive in efforts to support sports and climate action. Chief Officer for Youth and Sports, Nahum Jelagat, said her department will work to implement the Governor’s youth and talent empowerment agenda.
The county government of Uasin Gishu is the biggest sponsor of the marathon, having contributed Ksh 18 million in the past edition. Several County Executives, senior county officers and sponsors attended the ceremony.
Eldoret City Marathon was formed to promote sports and push the campaign on climate action by planting as many trees. Under the program, over 4 million trees have been planted across the county, since the race started in 2018.
Victor Kipchirchir and Emily Chebet, who are the winners of the 2022 men’s and women’s 42km races, were awarded Ksh 3.5 million each. The awards were cascaded to the top 20 finishers.
The Gounty Government is running the Governor’s Cup Volleyball tournament, currently at the grassroots level. The aim is to help nurture youth talent and make sports a profitable profession to earn from. The slogan is *Vijana ni Nguzo, Tuwakuze.*
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