They said the race, which brings together local and international athletes, had slight changes that made it look different from the previous races as it excited Moshi residents, athletes and hosts.
The branding and fabulous prizes, including medals and promotional merchandise, are among things that brought excitement to the people and the runners who took part in the country?s biggest sporting event and one of Africa?s top road races.
Tigo, who sponsored the event for the first time, gave the half marathon participants and even those who turned up at the Moshi University of Cooperative and Business Studies (MUCoBS) ground to witness the event reason to smile.
?People appreciated Tigo for bringing their services closer to the people who did not expect to get them. In the past they used to witness the marathon for pleasure; drinking and munching Nyama Choma but this time around things have slightly changed for the better,? said Tullo Chambo, an Athletics Tanzania (AT) official and experienced Journalist.
Apart from sponsoring the half marathon, Tigo, whose services are now available all over the country also used the race to provide various services and promotional materials, unlike in the previous races.
Apart from that, the route used for the race was decorated with banners of the sponsors which added colour to Moshi town, which is under the roof of Africa?s highest mountain, the Kilimanjaro.
Fabulous prizes were dished out to the first 500 finishers of the 42km Kilimanjaro Marathon, the first 2,200 finishers of the Tigo Half Marathon and first 80 finishers of the GAPCO 10km disabled race. The first 3,000 finishers of the five-kilometre fun run were awarded T-shirts at the finish line.
Over 5,000 runners from 40 countries including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Ethiopia, Eritrea and hosts Tanzania took part in the 2015 Kilimanjaro Marathon.
Tigo injected 80m/- into the Kili Half Marathon and it paid for six top athletes who performed well at last year?s Tigo Ngorongoro Half Marathon.
Tanzanian athletes had a clean sweep of medals in the men?s half marathon won by Ismail Juma, followed by Emmanuel Giniki and Theophil Joseph. Kenyans dominated the women?s category as Grace Kimanzi emerged winner, followed by Yenuce Echumba and Vicoty Cherkemai in second and third slots respectively.
Theophil, last year?s Tigo Ngorongoro Half Marathon winner, was among athletes sponsored by Tigo in the Kilimanjaro Marathon.
Others were Andrea Sambu, lfonse Felix, Catherine Lange, Failuna Abdi and Mary Naali. Prize package for the half marathon winners for both men and women was 2m/- and half of the sum was earmarked for runners-up while third-placed winners pocketed 500,000/- each.
Tigo has sponsored the event as part of its initiative to promote sports and expose the country?s talented athletes to the world.
The company believes that the Tigo Kili Half Marathon is an ideal opportunity for local athletes to compete against the world?s top runners and showcase the country?s tourist attractions to the world.
Tigo?s corporate responsibility also seeks to directly turn around the social welfare of the people in education, health, environment, entrepreneurship, job creation, arts and sports.
The Kilimanjaro Marathon is held in Moshi every year to raise funds for community development programmes including environmental conservation around Mt Kilimanjaro.
The organisers must ensure there is enough promotion for the Kilimanjaro Marathon to make it more exciting and successful.
One way is by broadcasting live the race both within and outside the country.
As urged by President Jakaya Kikwete, they must grab the opportunity provided by Azam Media in promoting the event to the levels of the London and New York Marathons.
Source Tanzania Daily News
