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Kenyans Unite to Cheer on Olympic Athletes

August 22, 2008 2:54 PM

By Dana Hughes, ABC News Africa Digital Reporter based in Nairobi.

Kenyans have been pouring into bars and gyms and even leaving work early to cheer on their Olympic team in Beijing. The Games have dominated local media all week. This Olympics is especially poignant because of the turmoil the country experienced earlier this year. Post-election violence pitted tribe against tribe and exposed the deep disparity between the rich and poor in the country. But this week, there was no talk of Kikuyu or Luo or Kalenjin tribes -- it was all about unity and Kenya.

Kenya has a distinguished history of producing some of the fastest long-distance runners in the world, most coming from the Rift Valley. During the post-election violence, which killed more than 1,000 people in January and February, some Kenyan runners were killed and others accused of fueling the violence. It was questionable whether the country would even be able to participate in the Beijing Games -- and if it did, would its athletes be prepared?   

The country's runners haven't disappointed. Pamela Jelimo, 18, won the country's first-ever women's gold medal in the 800 meter race, just edging out another Kenyan, Janeth Jepkosgei, who was expected to win. Brimin Kipruto continued Kenya's tradition of  winning the men's long-distance steeplechase race. Kenyans have won the event in the last seven Olympics. Tomorrow, Kenyans will compete in the 3,000-meter race, hoping to bring home more medals. So far, the country has more medals than almost any other developing nation, with eight total.

Kenyans such as Nairobi businessman Joseph Wambugu say the success of the Olympics is helping the country to heal. "Anything that unites people helps them forget about the differences they have," says Wambugu. "It's one way to bring the nation together as a nation, rather than by tribe."

You can see how Kenyans are reacting to the 2008 Beijing Olympics Here:

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5635197

August 22, 2008 in Dana Hughes | Permalink | User Comments (0)

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