Eldoret fans to follow race at popular Sirikwa Hotel ‘marathon viewerthon’
Athletes are introduced during the live television viewing of the Chicago Marathon last month in Kaspabet organised by the Bank of Africa and LG Electronics. The two organisations have organised a similar event for the New York Marathon at Eldoret’s Sirikwa Hotel. PHOTO | DENNIS LUBANGA |
What you need to know:
- The athletes are drawn from several running clubs in Kenya and feature in the big city races as a passion.
IN NEW YORK CITY
Besides the elite athletes, Kenya will field a group of recreational runners at Sunday’s TCS New York City Marathon who will be running for fun, drawing added interest in the race back home.
The athletes are drawn from several running clubs in Kenya and feature in the big city races as a passion.
In Eldoret, athletics fans will also follow the live race at a viewing gathering organised by the Bank of Africa and LG Electronics, among other partners, at the downtown Sirikwa Hotel.
Bank of Africa has been organising what has now popularly become known as a “marathon viewerthon,” for the last five years with the lender’s customers and local athletic fans interacting as they support their favourite Kenyan marathoners
In addition to sponsoring the marathon viewing parties, BOA offers a distinctive package for sportsmen and women through its ‘Mwanariadha Account’ and Asset Finance whose offering further contributes to their financial goals.
The bank’s partners LG Electronics will showcase their products and services during the viewing party at Sirikwa.
Athletes at the viewing will also be educated on issues around customs, taxation and anti-doping by the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, who are the other partners in the series, alongside Multichoice Kenya, Banda Homes and Fly Tristar airline.
“Residents of Eldoret are invited to join us for a free service campaign and the live screening of the New York Marathon which will be viewed through the LG OLED TV.
“Catch every action of the Marathon at Sirikwa Hotel courtesy of LG,” a statement from LG Electronics invited the athletes.
Multichoice Kenya will give away three DStv Explora decoders at a raffle during the race viewing at the Sirikwa Hotel.
Defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor, last year’s London Marathon winner Daniel Wanjiru and two-time Eindhoven Marathon title holder Festus Talam will feature in the men’s race with London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot and two-time New York winner Mary Keitany in the women’s race.
Other top athletes at the New York Marathon include USA’s Kenya-born Bernard Lagat, who will be making his marathon debut, fellow countrymen Abdi Abdirahman and Shadrack Biwott along with the Ethiopian trip of Lelisa Desisa, Tamirat Tola and Shura Kitata.
