Kapchorwa district officials have organised a “drive through for the athletes to ensure social distance”, according to the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) general secretary Beatrice Ayikoru.
They were received with aplomb from Tokyo during a memorable procession from Entebbe Airport on Tuesday that attracted hundreds of adoring spectators. That was accompanied by the ultimate welcome, a state reception on Wednesday at Kololo Airstrip, hosted by chief guest and head of state President Yoweri Museveni and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni.
Now Joshua Cheptegei and the rest of the Sebei athletes from Uganda’s Tokyo Olympic team will be welcomed back home today.
Kapchorwa district officials have organised a “drive through for the athletes to ensure social distance”, according to the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) general secretary Beatrice Ayikoru, who emphasized the need for safety throughout the celebrations.
The full programme of the affair was not available by press time but Ayikoru urged that in light of upcoming global athletics events, any celebrations would need to be conducted in a manner that minimized the risk of spreading COVID-19.
The Olympics were held without spectators for the first time in history, in Tokyo, because of COVID-19, with athletes and officials at the Games subjected to daily tests. With the Wanda Diamond League returning next week in the US, Cheptegei, Chemutai and Kiplimo, among other Ugandan athletics stars, will soon be returning to competition.
That means continued adherence to the safety protocols, especially at public gatherings, as at Wednesday’s State Reception at Kololo. Today’s event will be expected to minimize health risks at an event that might attract a large crowd of locals eager to show their support to the children of the soil.
Of Uganda’s 25-strong Tokyo Olympics team, 15 hailed from the Sebei region, including all three medal winners. Returning home from the greatest sports expedition in Ugandan history, these home-grown heroes definitely deserve a fitting welcome.
But as UAF president Dominic Otucet cautioned, “It’s okay for people to rejoice because this type of victory is not easy to come by but we must observe all SOPs because we need these athletes healthy and we need our communities also healthy.”
