Mazinga Dam, Kenya

Click Here for Athlete Profiles selected for Kenya

OBJECTIVE

To hone and obtain new skills in a positive environment for the sport of whitewater slalom while promoting diplomacy through paddlesport. This program is sponsored by the World Paddlesport Foundation and the Front Range Paddle Association based in Boulder, Colorado.Our International partners are the Insitute for Cultural Diplomacy through Sport and the International Olympic Committee.

QUALIFICATIONS

Each athlete must have a solid roll and comfortable in class 3-4 whitewater, willing to train 2-3 sessions per day, in addition to at least one session of collaboration work with an athlete from the African Continent, promoting fair play, positive coaching and Olympic Solidarity.

Each athlete must send a basic letter of intent to the WPSF/FRPA no later than November 10th. This letter of intent must state reasoning of their participation, statement of personal mission in sport and their long term goals as an athlete and how this trip helps achieve this personal mission.

Only 7 athletes or 7 boats will be selected for this once in a lifetime trip.

TRIP DATES

JANUARY 11TH Depart for Nairobi, Kenya via London Heathrow to Jomo Kenya International Airport in Nairobi and will be provided Transport to Masinga Dam Resort, which will be the Championship HQ.

We will return to the USA on January 29th from Nairobi in the morning  and arrive in the US late evening on the 29th

SCHOOL DETAILS

All athletes selected for this camp and race will be expected to receive a list of assignments in advance from their schools and finish everything in advance of departure. Teachers can, if needed, assign tests and email me their test in the desired format and I can provide it to their specifications on their preferred day. Ideally all tests can be given the day before departure or upon the return.  The student/athlete will receive a letter of clearance from their teachers and handed to me pre-departure for final clearance for trip.

Each student/athlete will have sufficient time each day to complete assignments that are overflow as well as the 36 hours of transport roundtrip.

TRIP DETAILS

We will depart the USA through Dulles International Airport where we will meet as a group from our respective airports from around the US. If there are any Canadian athletes selected, we will meet at London Heathrow airport en route to Nairobi.

Upon arrival to Nairobi, we will be met by a delegation from the Kenyan Olympic Committee who will provide all transportation to the Mozinga Dam training grounds in Tana river, Kenya (approx 3 hour drive from Nairobi).  We will then stay at the Mozinga Dam Resort and be provided with all needed boats for those who wish to not bring their own, all food and other needs by the African Olympic Committee in Kenya.

Once settled we will begin training on the River Tana with approx 2 full water sessions each day followed by collaborations with members of different African Nations  (ie:  Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, etc) in which we will assign partners for each athlete to then perform drills and other things to better their knowledge as well better understand the social and cultural dynamics with each country.We will also be racing as demonstration athletes in the 1st African Olympic Continental Qualifier for the Beijing Olympic in August 2008.  Africa has never had such a qualification in years prior in paddlesport. Due to the increase of nations representing Africa in our sport it is a groundbreaking opportunity with our exchange and these developing nations in our sport continue positive growth toward future world Championship and Olympic Games.

There will be points of the trip in which we will be partnered with athletes from Kenya and they will be our guides on a local safari, primarily pre-competition. There will be exchanges in language, most understand English here, but the Kenyan primary language is Swahili. Most other Nations also will have a good basic knowledge of English which will make exchanges very easy here.

Each student/athlete will also be required to maintain a journal and exchange writing with African athletes about the diversity of sport and bettering our knowledge of the social, political and spiritual cultures in each region and country of participating athletes. Each athlete will then provide a final report that will be in specific hosted by theInstitute for Cultural Diplomacy in Sport in Berlin. The ICD is an official partner with the World Paddlesport Foundation and the Front Range Paddle Association. This report will explain the collaboration details and explanations of the trips relationship to Cosmopolitanism, Olympism and Nationalism based on your new or past understanding of the three types of ideals in International Sporting Life as explained by the modern day Olympics Founder Coubertin.

All athletes can expect some International Press and speaking in the world media of how important exchanges like these are for global sporting and diplomacy across all sporting disciplines. Through raw humanitarian exchanges people can better understand and see that we are all the same under our skin as human beings and bring people closer together through sport.

Each member will be provided a basic team uniform for competition and training as well be provided with a shirt for exchange with your African mentor/mentee partners.

The WPSF and FRPA will provide all logistic and arrange Visa permittance forms in advance of our departure and arrival in Kenya. Each athlete will need the recommended injections and a Health Insurance Emergency Card in case of accident or sudden illness in Africa. The Emergency Health Card will permit all needed emergency surgical or evacuation at no additional cost to you as well as evacuation to the nearest city (Nairobi) for modern medical treatment.

Past FRPA camps/trips and or collaborations have been between more than 8 countries including China and Iran over the last six years.

ABOUT KENYA AND TANA RIVER SITE & EVENT INFO

Kenya- Summary; Kenya is situated in East Africa from latitude 4 N to 4 S latitudes; 34 E to 41 E. The country is bisected from North to South by the Great Rift Valley and from east to West by the Equator. The Kenya landscape covers a great range of terrain, from Sea level at the Coast to 5,199m on the snow-capped peak of Mt Kenya. This is one of the most geographically diverse countries on Earth. With vast expanses of savannah, highland ranges, equatorial forests, extinct Volcanoes, and series of fresh water and soda lakes, alpine glaciers and arid deserts, and tropical beaches all within Kenya. The great diversity of habitats is equaled by remarkable variety of Species of flora and fauna, These include large grazing herds of Zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, large mammals such as Elephants, Lions, Cheetahs, Buffalo, Rhinos, and leopards. Kenya’s World famous wildlife is protected in 48 National parks, Reserves and marine parks as well as private parks and sanctuaries.

Culture; Kenya fascinating cultural history goes back over 4.5 million years, with some of the earliest known evidence of early man uncovered on the shores of lake Turkana. Kenya has 42 different and unique cultures and languages, 70% of Kenya are of Christian faith while about 30% are of Muslim faith. The population of Kenya is about 33 Million, Kenya has 8 provinces and the largest City is the capital city is Nairobi (3 million), Mombasa (1million) is the 2nd largest city. Kenya‘s neighbors are Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania. The main languages of Kenya are Swahili and English with several ethnic languages.

Masinga Dam–Summary; Masinga Dam is the venue of the above championships, it is the largest man-made fresh Water Dam in East and Central Africa; it is fed by the largest river in Kenya, Tana River.

Medical; One Nurse and First Aid services will available at the Masinga Dam Resort on 24 hrs service from 11th January to 29th January

Wildlife;  Generally some areas  are infested with Crocodiles and Hippos both at the Championships venue and other wild areas, but  these areas are known so we keep away from their habitats as well a wildlife game official will be on site.

Security; Security service will be provided by Organs of Government of Kenya

Boat Classes ;

Juniors and Seniors.
MEN Flat water; K1, K2, C1,

           SLALOM; K1, C1 & C2
Women Flat water; K1, K1

            SLALOM; K1(Demo C1W)

KARIBU KENYA –WELCOME TO KENYA
We hope you have an enjoyable stay in Kenya
May the best Athletes Win!

COSTS AND NEEDS BY THE ATHLETE

*The all-inclusive cost of this trip is estimated at $3,100.00 USD for the full trip, including all airfare, car rentals, transport, visas and health cards

*All athletes must have a passport with no less than 6 months remaining before expiration

* All athletes must provide a letter of recommendation from their schools to participate in the camp. All selected athletes will be provided with the format of the letter.

* All attending athletes must know and accept and sign the acceptance as an 'International Mentor Form'  (provided after camp acceptance)