OLYMPIC MARATHON CHAMPION Stephen Kiprotich yesterday returned to Uganda where he was greeted with a rapturous welcome, an $80,000 (€65,000) cheque, a promotion and a pledge that his parents will get a new house.
Kiprotich, who beat the heavily-fancied Kenyan team to claim Uganda’s first gold medal in 40 years at the London Games, was welcomed by cheering fans before being whisked to a breakfast meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.
Museveni presented the gold-medalist with the cheque and ordered the money “be deposited on his account before the close of business today,” the president’s office said in a statement.
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Uganda’s GDP per capita stands at around €410 according to the World Bank.
Museveni also promised to construct a three-bedroom house for Kiprotich’s impoverished parents who live in a remote area of eastern Uganda, the statement said.
Kiprotich is greeted by his wife and children. Stephen Wandera/AP/Press Association Images.
Meanwhile, the state-run daily New Vision newspaper claimed to have almost €100,000 from public and corporate donations for the athlete, and is aiming to collect over €400,000, it reported on its website.
Kiprotich, who works as a warder in Uganda’s prisons, was also handed a promotion from his bosses, a senior official at the Uganda prison services said.
“We are promoting him and we will commission him soon,” Tommy Ochen, director of correctional services, told AFP.
Kiprotich, who was accompanied by his wife and two children, has complained about the lack of funding for Ugandan athletes.
Like many of the world’s top runners, he had moved to Kenya’s renowned high altitude Eldoret region to do most of his training.
Reward: Marathon winner Kiprotich promised new house for parents
OLYMPIC MARATHON CHAMPION Stephen Kiprotich yesterday returned to Uganda where he was greeted with a rapturous welcome, an $80,000 (€65,000) cheque, a promotion and a pledge that his parents will get a new house.
Kiprotich, who beat the heavily-fancied Kenyan team to claim Uganda’s first gold medal in 40 years at the London Games, was welcomed by cheering fans before being whisked to a breakfast meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.
Museveni presented the gold-medalist with the cheque and ordered the money “be deposited on his account before the close of business today,” the president’s office said in a statement.
Uganda’s GDP per capita stands at around €410 according to the World Bank.
Museveni also promised to construct a three-bedroom house for Kiprotich’s impoverished parents who live in a remote area of eastern Uganda, the statement said.
Meanwhile, the state-run daily New Vision newspaper claimed to have almost €100,000 from public and corporate donations for the athlete, and is aiming to collect over €400,000, it reported on its website.
Kiprotich, who works as a warder in Uganda’s prisons, was also handed a promotion from his bosses, a senior official at the Uganda prison services said.
Kiprotich, who was accompanied by his wife and two children, has complained about the lack of funding for Ugandan athletes.
Like many of the world’s top runners, he had moved to Kenya’s renowned high altitude Eldoret region to do most of his training.
- © AFP, 2012
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