“Karibu Miramas!” » In Bouches-du-Rhône, about forty kilometers northwest of Marseille, the town of Miramas discovered Swahili. Friday February 2, the municipality signed a partnership with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) to welcome Kenyan athletes before the Paris Olympic Games and thus welcome them. From June, the city will serve as a training center and base camp for the Kenyan delegation made up of around a hundred competitors (in athletics but also in taekwondo, boxing, beach volleyball, etc.) and around thirty members of management (trainers, doctors, etc.).
If many foreign delegations have chosen to set up their preparation centers for the Games around Paris (the United States in Eaubonne, in Val-d’Oise; Brazil in Saint-Ouen, in Seine-Saint-Denis, etc.) Kenya, one of the largest African delegations, chose the South. “We have confidence in Miramasassures Paul Tergat, athletics star – five-time world cross-country champion and double silver medalist in the 10,000m – who has become president of NOCK. Our athletes will be able to train peacefully and this environment will increase our performances…”
The links between Miramas and Kenya were forged in 2014 when the marathon runner Daniel Chirchir, former hare of Paul Tergat, joined the Athletic Club Miramas (ACM). “I first arrived in Marseille but there were too many people to train properlyhe remembers. In Miramas, I found a friendly atmosphere and ideal conditions. » In his wake, other Kenyan runners joined him, such as Paul Koech, Olympic bronze medalist (2004) in the 3,000m steeplechase.
In 2019, during a trip to Kenya, the ACM signed a partnership with the Kenyan Athletics Federation because, in the meantime, the Miramas Métropole Stadium, a 5,500-seat venue, was built. This ultra-modern stadium, which enabled the city to be labeled “Land of Games 2024”, is the third largest indoor complex in Europe. “Miramas has countless benefits for the preparation of our athleteswelcomes Ababu Namwamba, Minister of Sports of Kenya. The Mediterranean climate is fantastic, the people are friendly and the training conditions are excellent. Everything is perfect ! »
“A fantastic opening to the world”
In Miramas, which has more than 10,000 members of sports clubs for 27,000 inhabitants, the enthusiasm for the Olympic Games and Kenyan athletes is palpable. It will increase over the months. In addition to concerts and events planned, a Kenyan house intended to present the country’s culture will open its doors in the city center. “Receiving the Kenyan delegation represents a tremendous opening to the world, enthuses the mayor, Frédéric Vigouroux. All the youth of Miramas will be associated with the event. In addition to the economic benefits, territorial relations will be established, particularly in terms of environmental protection, because Kenya is ahead in this area. »
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