The 5th National Sports Forum has been held today, 31st December 2020 and given the prevailing outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic, the Forum has been held online. The Minister of state for Sports, Honorable Denis Hamson Obua chaired the Forum as stipulated in Article 17 of the National Council of Sports Statutory Instrument No.38 which provides for the convening of the participatory meeting at least once every three months with National Sports Associations/Federations.

The key highlight of the 5th Forum has been the announcement of government through National Council of Sports to pay for the COVID19 testing expenses for the National Sports Teams/athletes who are up for National Duty.

The Forum also highlighted the major sports achievements in the previous quarter that despite the constraints that were associated with the COVID19 outbreak, the sector has been able to thrive; in athletics, Joshua Cheptegei set new two world records in 5000m and 10000m and Jacob Kiplimo’s win at the World Half Marathon Championships while in Basketball, the Silverbacks progressed to the next qualification window of the AfroBasket Qualifiers in Egypt.

Other issues of the Sports Funding Policy was discussed as a measure to streamline the much debated funds appropriation among the 51 National Sports Associations/Federations.