Tigo Half Marathon attracts more participants in Moshi

THE Kilimanjaro Marathon is here again and this time it is expected to be bigger and more exciting as more than 10,000 local and foreign runners compete for supremacy in the muchawaited event recognized by the World’s governing athletics body, (IAAAF).

No doubt that the Tigo Kilimanjaro half Marathon has become one of the biggest and famous races in the Kilimanjaro Marathon event as it has over the years attracted a huge number of participants ranging from individuals, jogging clubs and corporates.

Out of over 10,000 participants of the Kilimanjaro Marathon, almost half of them are participants of Tigo half Marathon, which just goes to show how prominent this race has become and how Tanzanians have started taking athletics and healthy living seriously.

Tigo, one of the leading cellular phone operators in the country, is now in its fourth year of sponsorship of this prestigious event, which last year saw Tanzanian, Emmanuel Giniki emerging first in the 21 km race, hence making Tigo more proud of its sponsorship.

Tigo’s Acting Northern Zone Director, Henry Kinabo says Tigo has decided to continue being part and parcel of the race because of the success and popularity attained since its inception in 2002. He says that they will offer attractive prizes from first to tenth winners, the total cash for all will be

11m/- with the winner in both categories walking home with 2m/-. “Tigo is giving away a total of 11m/- in cash prizes to the top ten male and female performers in the Half-Marathon event. Victors in both the men’s and women’s races will each receive cash awards of 2m/-, second place finishers will receive 1m/- each, while 650,000/- will be on offer for the third place finishers,” Kinabo reveals.

Additionally, according to Kinabo, other prizes ranging from 500,000/- to 100,000/- will be up for grabs for the fourth to tenth placed finishers in both the men’s and women’s races, alongside commemorative medals.

“We have made a good start and as years go by, we expect to improve the package to attract more runners,” says the director. He says during this year’s event there were over 4,000 runners and they expect this number to increase in 2018 due to the popularity that the race has gained over the years.

“We want to see athletics make a further step ahead by promoting our local runners to the international level of competition,” he says and adds that Kilimanjaro Marathon is proud to have produced the likes of Alphonce Felix Simbu and Emmanuel Giniki, who are doing well locally and internationally. “We also want to reach our customers by giving them our attractive offers at our tent during the race”, he adds. Kinabo says Tigo is thrilled to once again be part of this iconic road race that brings together elite athletes alongside people from all walks of life in a celebration of sports, fun, culture, tourism and healthy living. Tigo is also proud to be sponsoring this prestigious event because it promotes Tanzania’s tourism attractions to the worldwide community, whilst bringing together family and friends in a celebration of fitness, healthy living, camaraderie and unforgettable memories. Kinabo says the Kilimanjaro Marathon would not have been complete without the contribution from other sponsors including main Sponsors, Kilimanjaro Premium Lager -- 42km, Grand Malt --5km and water table sponsors First National Bank, Kilimanjaro Water, Diamond Motors Ltd, Kibo Palace, KK Security, Keys Hotel, TPC Sugar, Simba Cement and KNAUF Gypsum. “We invite all participants to the Tigo Kilimanjaro Half Marathon to share their memories with loved ones on Tigo 4G, Tanzania’s largest and fastest network,” says Kinabo.

“As we are now counting down to the race, there is no more time for runners to wait, we want them to register early enough and get ready for the fabulous race, attractive cash prizes and good offer of smartphones and distribution of Tigo 4G mobile lines from our Tigo tent,” he says.

The 2018 Kilimanjaro Premium Lager Marathon, which is organized by Wild Frontiers, Deep Blue Media and nationally coordinated by Executive Solutions, will be held on March 4, 2018 at the Moshi Cooperatives University grounds.