It is a double blessing for Kenyan athletics veteran Paul Tergat after he had his tenure as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) extended by eight years.
The celebrated athlete was also appointed by the IOC President Thomas Bach to serve as a member of the IOC Tokyo Games Disciplinary Commission.
In the initial extension, Tergat was among five individuals who were re-elected to serve for an additional 8 years.
Others include Octavian Morariu of Romania, Brazil’s Bernard Rajzman, Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski of the Philippines and Ethiopia’s Dagmawit Girmay Berhane.
The commission is tasked with dealing with disciplinary matters related to the Olympic Games. For other matters, the IOC will liaise with the Japanese security department.
Tergat thanked the IOC President for according him another chance of service to the Olympic family.
“I give my assurance of willingness and readiness to discharge the assigned responsibility with diligence, integrity, without fear or favour for the benefit of the desired goals and objectives of the Disciplinary Committee.
“It is a great honour for me, but most importantly, for my country Kenya, represented here by our gallant Team Kenya," stated Kipchoge.
The Olympics, which are late to kick off on Friday, July 21, are facing challenges ranging from Covid-19 pandemic as well as estimated losses from the no-fans affair.
So far, 71 Covid-19 cases have been linked to the event.
Tergat is considered one of the most accomplished long-distance athletes in the country and was the first Kenyan to set the world record in Marathon in 2003.
He has won several awards including five International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athletics Cross Country Championships.
