Safaricom Offers 10 Million Jackpot for Olympics Medalists

27th June 2012…Leading integrated communications provider, Safaricom Limited has announced a 10 million shilling jackpot for the Olympics team which will include cash prizes for medal winners.

In the scheme, Gold medalists will take home KSh1million, Silver medalists KSh0.6 million while Bronze medalists will be awarded KSh0.3 million. Further, any team that registers a clean sweep of the Gold, Silver and Bronze at the podium in the Olympics will receive 1 million shillings each, making it the most attractive jackpot in Kenya's history.

Safaricom has presented each member of the team with a Samsung Galaxy Pocket and airtime worth Kes.10,000 each, as they prepare to leave the country for the pre-Olympics training camp in the UK.

Speaking at a dinner event organised in honour of the Olympics team, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore noted the special role Kenyan athletes play in promoting the country at home and abroad.

"2012 is a watershed year for Kenya, where as a nation we sit on the cusp of political change under a new constitutional dispensation as we challenge ourselves to exorcise the ghosts of the 2002 Election. This team therefore carries our individual and national dreams and aspirations for a brighter, more optimistic and more Kenyan future and this is what we as Safaricom are here to celebrate," said Mr. Collymore.

"This is also a great year technologically where the athletes can use technology to share their London experience with their fans by documenting every moment and every win through their phones, on Twitter and Facebook. Kenyans will be joining the global audience digitally on their TV stations, on their phones and on the Go and we are excited that on our platform we will give Kenyans a first row experience to the greatest show on earth," added Mr. Collymore.

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Kenyan team posted an impressive performance bringing home 14 medals including six gold and the first ever marathon gold. Expectations are high that this year, said Collymore, Kenya will perform better than it did in the last Olympics.

"Looking at the names and records of some the athletes representing Kenya in London such as David Rudisha, Vivian Cheruiyot, Mary Kaittany, Pamela Jelimo and Jason Dunford, one gets the sense that we are sending, easily one of our strongest squads to the Olympics in recent times and I therefore believe that the London Olympics will be the best event for Kenya yet," added Mr. Collymore.

Sports Minister Dr. Paul Otuoma lauded the support that corporate organizations have given to the Olympics team so far.

"The value of the support that we are receiving from corporate organizations like Safaricom and indeed from individuals is not just monetary; it is psychological. This support is what motivates our athletes to perform well and bring the medals home," he said.

Besides the cash award scheme, Safaricom has also offered its sms platform to support a fundraising appeal by the National Olympic Committee for the team. The appeal which was launched on Madaraka Day takes the form of an SMS sent to 5055 at a cost of KSh10. All funds raised from this appeal will be directed towards the national team and Safaricom will therefore not make any revenue from the campaign.

"Since Kenya started participating in the Olympics in 1956, our athletes have turned Kenya into an Olympics powerhouse by continuously dominating the middle and long distance races. In all this time, Kenya's support for our athletes has never been in doubt. Indeed, athletics indisputably epitomizes our patriotism. I would therefore like to urge Kenyans both individual and corporate, to rally behind our team as we work to ensure that we bring home, our biggest Olympic medal haul yet," said NOCK Chairman Kipchoge Keino.

The team travelling to the UK was formally announced on 23rd June 2012, paving way for a residential camp that began on 25th of June 2012. The team will then depart for Bristol for further training during the first week of July ahead of the start of the Games on the 27th of July.

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 Ksh100 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 15 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.

Huawei Partners with Safaricom and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy for the Safaricom Marathon 2012

Nairobi, Kenya, 27th June 2012: Huawei, a leading global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services provider today, contributed USD 100,000 or the equivalent of KSh8.4 million towards the 2012 edition of the annual Safaricom Marathon.

The company has also taken four sponsorships categories in the marathon amounting to Ksh2.2 million, with 3 teams from Huawei participating in the half marathon corporate category.

The Safaricom marathon is regarded as the most challenging in the world. During his address at the cheque handover ceremony, Safaricom CEO Mr. Bob Collymore Said, "I would like to thank our strategic partner's Huawei, for coming on board once again to support this worthy cause; this is a testimony of their reliability in and out of business. Safaricom will continue its commitment to support this initiative in the years to come."

Collymore further added that the marathon which is regarded as the most challenging in the world is not only a great platform to connect with Safaricom's customers, but a wonderful opportunity to support deserving communities.

"The objective has always been to raise funds. A few years ago, the marathon was close to becoming just a fun event and people forgot that first and foremost it was supposed to be a fundraising event. So we repackaged the whole experience to ensure that people do raise the money," he says, "It's a great event, people come and have a lovely weekend, and the fact that we can do it with our customers and our subscribers makes it even better. We get to be part of a big family that is doing something for the wider good."

"The Safaricom marathon is a special event for us at Huawei, and we always look forward to this time of the year to run, and make a difference in the lives of the people of Lewa," said Mr. Wind Li, CEO of Huawei in Kenya. "Our company is keen on pushing the education/ knowledge transfer agenda in both curriculum and infrastructure development, as well as environmental conservation in Africa which the Safaricom marathon stands for." Huawei has participated in the marathon for the last 5 years with 3 corporate teams each year. The company has won the Lewa Trophy for the Highest Fundraiser Corporate category twice in 2009 and 2010.

The Safaricom Marathon has raised over two million dollars for education, community development, health and wildlife conservation projects, since its inception in 2000.

Proceeds from each year's marathon are invested in a wide range of projects benefiting sustainable development, education, healthcare, and wildlife, with an aim to balance the needs of rural communities with the objective of preserving Kenya's unique natural heritage for future generations.

This year, crowds and athletes will participate in the 13th edition of the Safaricom Marathon in Lewa which is built on the rich legacy of charity and community development that has been nurtured over the past 13 years.
The 13th edition of the marathon will be held on the 30th of June, 2012 with the theme 'Run Wild , for the Wild'.

- Ends-

About Safaricom Marathon
The Safaricom Marathon is regarded as one of the toughest marathons in the world. However, runners of all abilities take part, from fun runners, walkers and amateurs, to professionals.
The event is run through some of Kenya's most beautiful scenery. Mount Kenya lies to the south and there are breath-taking views north towards Samburu and Mount Lololokwe. The heavily protected 65,000 acre wildlife sanctuary is home to over 100 rhino, herds of elephant and a vast assortment of plains game including zebra, giraffe, buffalo and much more.
For more information, please visit www.safaricom.co.ke

About Huawei
Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Through our dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established end-to-end advantages in telecom networks, devices and cloud computing. We are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive solutions and services. Our products and solutions have been deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world's population.

For more information, visit Huawei online: www.huawei.com
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/huaweipress and YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/HuaweiPress