Safaricom Announces Reward Kitty for the 2012 Paralympics Team

Nairobi, August 1, 2012… Leading integrated communications services provider Safaricom Ltd has become the first corporate to announce a cash jackpot for a podium finish in this year's Paralympics games which kick off in London on the 29th of August.

At a luncheon hosted at the Michael Joseph Centre and graced by H.E. The Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka , Safaricom confirmed that it will award Kshs. 1 million for gold medalists, Kshs. 600,000 for silver medalists and Kshs.300, 000 for bronze medal winners. 

This is the 3rd time the Kenyan team is taking part following its debut in the 2004 Athens Paralympics. This year's Paralympics event will kick off in London at the tail end of the Summer Olympics event and will continue through to the 9th of September. Kenya will be represented by 14 athletes and 7 guides who will include world celebrated and triple world record holder Henry Wanyoike who will be going for glory in the 10,000 metres and marathon events.

Speaking at the event, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore said that the award scheme was mooted to motivate great performance at the London event. "Today we meet yet again to celebrate the men and women who invest a substantial amount of their time and energy, training in their respective athletic disciplines to bring pride to the country," he added.

Safaricom has over the years forged a strong a good partnership with the Paralympics team whose key highlight include a Kshs. 12.8 million award to the Beijing Paralympics medalists in 2008. Collymore noted that Safaricom was confident that the team will perform even better in this year's event in keeping with a gallant track record first established at the Athens Paralympics games. 

On his part, the Vice President and patron of the Kenya Paralympics Association, Kalonzo Musyoka called for more recognition for the Paralympians whom he felt have been overshadowed by the main Olympics team.
He said in his address to the team, "As you board that flight to London; you are going not just as individuals but as representatives of this country. Remember that the aspirations and dreams of many Kenyan men and women rest with you. Therefore, as you get onto that track or that field, though you may not see us or hear us, I can assure we will be cheering you on as you fly the Kenyan flag high." ….ENDS

Notes to the editors:

About Safaricom Corporate
Safaricom provides a comprehensive range of services under one roof. This includes mobile and fixed voice and data services on a variety of platforms. With annual revenues in excess of Kshs 100 billion, it is Kenya's widest 3G network with a growing fibre optic cable footprint and its most expansive WIMAX presence. 
Safaricom pioneered commercial mobile money transfer globally through M-PESA, the most successful such service anywhere in the world. Launched in March 2007 as a money transfer service, it now has over 18 million customers and over 37,000 Agent outlets countrywide.


About Safaricom Sports
Safaricom has had a longstanding tradition of sponsoring major sports events in the country.
In 2008, the company offered cash incentives for the Olympics team and the Paralympics teams as motivation for a good performance. The telecoms company was the major sponsor of the 2010 African Athletics Championships, which were the first ever to take place in Kenya. 
Safaricom is also a major sponsor of the Sportsman of the Year Award-SOYA which honors excellence in athletics. The company is also associated with many local races both at the national and community level.

Nairobi, August 1, 2012… Leading integrated communications services provider Safaricom Ltd has become the first corporate to announce a cash jackpot for a podium finish in this year's Paralympics games which kick off in London on the 29th of August.

At a luncheon hosted at the Michael Joseph Centre and graced by H.E. The Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka , Safaricom confirmed that it will award Kshs. 1 million for gold medalists, Kshs. 600,000 for silver medalists and Kshs.300, 000 for bronze medal winners. 

This is the 3rd time the Kenyan team is taking part following its debut in the 2004 Athens Paralympics. This year's Paralympics event will kick off in London at the tail end of the Summer Olympics event and will continue through to the 9th of September. Kenya will be represented by 14 athletes and 7 guides who will include world celebrated and triple world record holder Henry Wanyoike who will be going for glory in the 10,000 metres and marathon events.

Speaking at the event, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore said that the award scheme was mooted to motivate great performance at the London event. "Today we meet yet again to celebrate the men and women who invest a substantial amount of their time and energy, training in their respective athletic disciplines to bring pride to the country," he added.

Safaricom has over the years forged a strong a good partnership with the Paralympics team whose key highlight include a Kshs. 12.8 million award to the Beijing Paralympics medalists in 2008. Collymore noted that Safaricom was confident that the team will perform even better in this year's event in keeping with a gallant track record first established at the Athens Paralympics games. 

On his part, the Vice President and patron of the Kenya Paralympics Association, Kalonzo Musyoka called for more recognition for the Paralympians whom he felt have been overshadowed by the main Olympics team.
He said in his address to the team, "As you board that flight to London; you are going not just as individuals but as representatives of this country. Remember that the aspirations and dreams of many Kenyan men and women rest with you. Therefore, as you get onto that track or that field, though you may not see us or hear us, I can assure we will be cheering you on as you fly the Kenyan flag high." ….ENDS

Notes to the editors:

About Safaricom Corporate
Safaricom provides a comprehensive range of services under one roof. This includes mobile and fixed voice and data services on a variety of platforms. With annual revenues in excess of Kshs 100 billion, it is Kenya's widest 3G network with a growing fibre optic cable footprint and its most expansive WIMAX presence. 
Safaricom pioneered commercial mobile money transfer globally through M-PESA, the most successful such service anywhere in the world. Launched in March 2007 as a money transfer service, it now has over 18 million customers and over 37,000 Agent outlets countrywide.


About Safaricom Sports
Safaricom has had a longstanding tradition of sponsoring major sports events in the country.
In 2008, the company offered cash incentives for the Olympics team and the Paralympics teams as motivation for a good performance. The telecoms company was the major sponsor of the 2010 African Athletics Championships, which were the first ever to take place in Kenya. 
Safaricom is also a major sponsor of the Sportsman of the Year Award-SOYA which honors excellence in athletics. The company is also associated with many local races both at the national and community level.