As winners of the Rössing Namibia Marathon Championships in February 2011, Pinehas Embashu and Helaria Johannes was awarded with a newly introduced, additional N$20 000 each sponsorship for a year. This new sponsorship was made in addition to the N$10 000 cash each in prize money that the two top class athletes won at Rössing's popular marathon event in February this year and is for continued, material support of the two top class long distance athletes over the competition period of the 2011 season.
At the handover event in Windhoek on 24 October 2011, Jerome Mutumba, Rössing's Manager External Affairs present the Men and Ladies Open Rössing Marathon winners of 2011 with additional prizes worth N$20 000 each. In the middle is Pinehas Embashu and on the right Helaria Johannes.
Given the athletes outstanding achievements so far this season and with Helaria up for the Sportswoman of the Year award at the upcoming Namibia Sport Awards in November, Rössing would like to believe that we have had some part in their success so far in 2011. Namibians are fierce sporting competitors and there is no doubt that we will witness some amazing achievements in future from these two athletes.
Rio Tinto's, and by implication Rössing's own values of accountability, respect, teamwork and integrity are in tune with those of these two outstanding athletes and we are thrilled to partner with them to help our athletes achieve success in their careers. Going forward, they will continue to inspire the nation with their courage and dedication to achieve their absolute best. This sponsorship is important to Rössing as it underlines the company's support for the people of Namibia.
Looking ahead, the Rössing Namibia Marathon Championship will again be hosted by the mine in 2012 for the 21st consecutive year in Swakopmund on Saturday, 18 February 2012. Long distance runners from all over Namibia are expected to participate in this prestigious event on the Namibian athletics calendar. We have also received interest again from international groups to come and participate in the event early next year.
We are sure Helaria and Pinehas will be able to testify that the Rössing Marathon is one of the important events through which aspirant runners can try and qualify for the South African long distance running events later in the same year. As usual, there will again be very attractive cash prizes associated with next year's marathon and we will announce the opening date for entries in the media early next year.
A couple of weeks ago, Rio Tinto successfully leveraged a major sponsorship of the Maputo 2011 All Africa Games in its efforts to build its brand in Mozambique (where the company now owns Riversdale coal mine) and across the continent (Rio Tinto has a presence in 14 African countries and has exploration work across the continent). The All Africa Games attracted athletes from 36 countries competing in 20 different sports. Rio Tinto's Gold sponsorship included the production of all the medals for the 2011 All Africa Games. The event was also a qualifier for the London 2012 Olympics and thus an important opportunity for many of Africa's greatest athletes.
Rio Tinto will also provide the metal to produce the 4 700 gold, silver and bronze medals at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games. Sponsorships of these kind give us a chance to meet our stakeholders and to build new and existing relationships and is a great way for us to share our deeply held commitment to sustainability. Our theme for the Olympics is “from mine to medal”, and we are committed to ensuring the journey of the metal from our mines to the medal podium is conducted in a sustainable way. It also gives us the opportunity to present our company as a large, leading global business associated with the biggest global sporting events in the world.
Helaria and Pinehas, all eyes on you, our best wishes for the remainder of the athletics season and we are looking forward to have you defend your titles at next year's Rössing Namibia Marathon Championship again.
Jerome Mutumba
Manager: External Affairs
Issued by:
Corporate Communications
Rössing Uranium Limited