Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    NAIROBI, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan government on Thursday backed elaborate preparations made by the Chinese government ahead of the Olympic Games which will be held in Beijing in August this year.

    President Mwai Kibaki expressed Kenya's unwavering support to China for hosting the Olympic Games and commended the Chinese government for the elaborate preparations undertaken to make the event a success.

    Kibaki, who was speaking after receiving a donation from the Chinese government towards the resettlement of the internally displaced, said the east African nation looks forward to participating in the coming 29th Olympic Games in Beijing later in the year.

    "Kenya will showcase a strong contingent of sportsmen and women as well as an exhibition hall called 'Kenya House' that will display cultural performances and other works of art at the games," he told the Chinese diplomatic delegation at the State House, Nairobi.

    Kibaki's remarks came a day after the country athletics body told runners to report to a training camp ahead of the Olympic Games. Athletics Kenya (AK) said the tough action is part of its training strategy for the Beijing games.

    Kenya has struggled to regain its former athletics glory, losing the mantle to neighboring Ethiopia. AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat also warned agents and managers against stopping athletes from attending the camp.

    "Every athlete selected must report to camp on May 20 and if they are not there by the deadline then they will be left out of the Olympic trials," he said. "We are training to win."

    Around 120 middle and long-distance runners are expected to report to the month-long training camp in the western town of Eldoret.