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{
    "id": 64190,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/64190/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 267,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Samoei",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 204,
        "legal_name": "William Samoei Ruto",
        "slug": "william-ruto"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me a chance to support this Motion. The import of this Motion brings to the fore the real problem that affects our sports. Sports are a very important component of our national development agenda. It is not just a physical exercise. It is also business in many ways. It is true that many sportsmen and women are languishing in villages and towns and even in foreign capitals because of their engagement in sports in their early lives, which has made them suffer several ailments including the ones that have been listed here by the Mover of this Motion, namely, dementia, severe arthritis. These problems are associated with the rigors of sports and the requirements of being champions. A case in point is the City of Eldoret, where I come from, where hundreds of sportsmen and women who have done this country proud in many aspects, lifted very high our flag and made our country known across the globe are languishing. If you travel in many foreign capitals and mention that you come from Kenya, people immediately recognize our sportsmen and women. A Fund that would help these great men and women of our nation, who have done this country proud, is a very befitting treatment for our sportsmen and women. What aggravates the problems that our sportsmen and women face when they retire is the state of our sports infrastructure. We have the Stadia Management Board, which does not match the talent that this country has in sports. To create the kind of infrastructure that will tap into the enormous talent that we have in this country, we need a clear Government policy on creating infrastructure for our sportsmen and women. Besides the social gains that we get from our young people engaging in sports, it goes all the way to creating a united nation. It has also become a very good source of investment in our country. In fact, half the City of Eldoret has been built by sportsmen and women. Sports have also become a very good foreign exchange earner for our country. Therefore, sports have a place in the development of our country. It is important for us to juxtapose the initiatives that have been carried out in this area with appropriate education, training and management of our sportsmen and women. When our sportsmen and women get money, many of them have very little knowledge of how to invest it, so that they can benefit from that investment in the future. There is very limited education. In fact, we persuade Moi University to come up with a programme to elevate the training of managers of athletes, so that athletes can better use their talent, either for a longer period of time or even in the short-run, so that they do not hurt themselves in the process by engaging in too much activity which has a negative effect on their talent. A lot of resources need to be put in to expand education for athletes, sports managers and the management of the gains. This is the human resource that comes by way of sports. A case in point is the Eldoret Stadium, which is in a very bad state such that men and women who train there are likely to be affected negatively much earlier than would have been the case if they had better facilities. This would help them to develop their talent, so that our country can benefit from their achievements. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I, therefore, wish to endorse and support the initiative that has been done by the Mover of this Motion. I am sure the Government will take up the views that have been expressed here and critically look at the kind of support in terms of infrastructure, education and management of both talent and resources that come by way of sports. With those many remarks, I wish to support."
}