President Jomo Kenyatta met Kenya's Commonwealth Games team in Mombasa on Sunday (January 6). He presented the contingent with the Kenyan flag. In return, team commander Sharad Rao gave President Kenyatta a team badge and tie.

After the meeting, Ben Jipcho, the world record holder for the steeplechase, indicated the concern of the athletes in acclimatization to Christchurch, New Zealand, the sits of this year's games which start later in the month. Christchurch is at sea level. The Kenyan team trained at the high altitude Police College at Kigan jo and may encounter some difficulty breathing because of the differences in he density of the air. Nevertheless, Jipcho believes the team will be able to overcome this acclimatization problem.

The Team left for Christchurch on Tuesday (January 8).

SYNOPSIS: Kenya's Commonwealth Games team met with President Jomo Kenyatta at the State House in Mombasa last Sunday. The athletes had been promised an audience with the President when they started training together three weeks ago. On Tuesday, they left for Christchurch, New Zealand where this year's Games are being held.

The team commandant, Shared Rao, who is an executive member of the Kenya National Sports Council, gave President Kenyatta an official team badge and tie. Mr. Kenyatta noted that the team to the tenth Commonwealth Games was the largest Kenyan sports contingent to go abroad since the country first entered international competition in 1954.

The eight-eight athletes were introduced to the President. There had been some concern about tribal dissension among the team members when/training camp opened last month at the high altitude Police College at Kiganjo. The concern stemmed from internal problems in the Kenyan contingent at the Munich Olympics in 1972 But Mr. Masinde Muliro, the Minister responsible for sports, warned he would not tolerate tribalism at the training camp.

Ben Jipcho, who currently holds the world record for the steeplechase and is one of the stars of the Kenyan team, said the training camp was very successful. He said the athletes quickly settled into the routine of three intensive training sessions a day and were very happy with the facilities.

President Kenyatta presented Jipcho with the Kenyan flag. The main concern of the athletes is acclimatising to Christchurch which is at sea level. The team trained at a high altitude. The differences in air density could make breathing difficult. But Ben Jipcho is convinced the team can overcome the problem.