Kenya to bid for 2016 Olympic Games

Kenya will bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games, the east African country's sports minister said.

"I want to say without winking or batting an eyelid that Kenya will be the first country in Africa to bid to host the 2016 Olympics," Ochillo Ayacko announced at Wednesday's official opening of a new National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) headquarters.

"I know President Mwai Kibaki has the desire that Kenya be the first African nation to host the Games."

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge, who was present at the function, pledged to help Kenya prepare the bid.

"I was very pleased to hear the Minister in charge of public works say that more land will be made available for sports," said Rogge in reference to an earlier remark by Transport and Public Works Minister Raila Odinga.

"Now that Kenya wants to host Olympic Games, it must be known that a lot of land will be required.

"I must also say that I am surprised by the Minister's announcement that Kenya will launch a bid for the 2016 Summer Games. I can assure you that this will be headline news."

Earlier this week, Rogge said he wanted an African country to stage the world's most prestigious Games some time in future.

The IOC will announce the host for the 2012 Games in Singapore in July. Paris, London, New York, Moscow and Madrid are the candidates.