David Kiambi, Special Olympics Kenya (SOK) national director, said the athletes would compete in athletics, volleyball and handball during the games for the intellectually challenged, according to the local Sunday Standard newspaper.

"Kenya will send 42 athletes and 11 coaches to the Special Olympics with a view to improving on the past performance," he said during a football tournament to select the national team at the University of Nairobi on Saturday.

The official said they would hold four training camps before they depart to China in October.

Kenya has competed in the Games five times since 1987 and the best performance was in Dublin, Ireland, in 2003, where they won 32 gold medals.

Steven Muli, the SOK co-ordinator, lauded the Standard Group for their efforts to publicize activities organized by the body.

"We have got a lot of publicity since we entered into a partnership agreement with the Standard Group last June," Muli said. "People have come to learn through The Standard and KTN that disability is not inability," he said.