Destination Uganda’s tourism Ambassador and also Gold medalist and world record holder in last year’s 10,000m and 5,000m race – Joshua Cheptegei was on Saturday during the weekend flagged off by Uganda Tourism Board Marketing Manager Claire Mugabi for the World Athletic Continental Tour (the 60th Ostrava Golden Spike Championships) in Czech Republic Ostrava City scheduled to take place on Wednesday May 19th 2021 in a 3,000m sprint as a build-up race for the fourth coming Tokyo Olympics slated to run between 30th July till August 15th 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Hopeful to win Cheptegei anticipates returning home with an accolade given the veterans’ athletic edition that will host upto 1,500 participants from different parts of the World in a scientific athletic championship to be aired on Supersport 9 and Social Media platforms.
Cheptegei named – the Silverback of the Pearl of Africa representing an alpha male gorilla in the gorilla family by Uganda Tourism Board will be entitled to showcase the mighty energy possessed by the great ‘’Silverback Gorilla’’ in dance chest thumping once he wins and also promote destination Uganda’s tourism products to the World during the Golden Spike as a sign of patriotism while informing his huge audiences on Social media about the beauty of Uganda’s tourism and reasons as to why they have to pay a visit to the Pearl of Africa and enjoy an exciting medley of wonders.
During the flag off event at UTB Offices in Kampala, the board’s Marketing Manager Claire Mugabi commented that Joshua Cheptegei was unveiled as destination Uganda tourism Ambassador in February this year where he was refered to as the ‘’Silverback of the Pearl of Africa’’.
She said that, ‘’Today, we are flagging off Joshua Cheptegei – the silverback of the Pearl of Africa as he goes to make history at the 60th Ostrava Golden Spike Championships in Czech Republic, Ostrava City’’.
She added that, ‘’As UTB, since we unveiled Cheptegei as Destination Uganda Ambassador, we have worked with him on different initiatives such as; Spearheading the Rwenzori Challenge done in December last year among other campaigns aimed at promoting Uganda’s Tourism to the World after which he traveled to Monaco – France for the 5,000m race where he emerged a winner’’.
She further revealed that, UTB is happy for the benefits reaped out of the partnership as Cheptegei has tremendously helped promote the different tourism products we have as a Country but also most importantly has gone ahead to spread the gospel about Uganda as the most safest Country on a Campaign that was initiated by the President of the Republic of Uganda as this has positioned Uganda as also the most beautiful and safest Country in East Africa given the existence of the pandemic. We are optimistic there will be massive tourist arrival numbers since the Covid-19 vaccine is currently being rolled out by the different source markets ‘’.
World record holder in the 10,000m and 5,000m race and Gold medallist and Destination Joshua Cheptegei revealed that he has been hiding in the hills of Kapchorwa and taking showers at Sipi Falls trying to prepare for the Continental tour scheduled to take place next week on Wednesday in Ostrava City, Czech Republic.
He added that, ‘’Normally as I always partake on the track in metre race challenge, the World and fans atlarge are always eager to see whats going to happen in the event’’.
He however revealed that, ‘’the 3,000m race isn’t my speciality as I am more into giant races like the 5,000m and the 10,000m sprints although this one presents the opportunity for me to sharpen my strength and speed for the fourth coming Tokyo Olympics. Therefore, I am with optimism history will be made at the 60th Ostrava Golden Spike in Czech Republic during the day and showcase to the World about the might of the silverback’’.
He concluded that, ‘’the opportunity I landed with the tourism board is so unique, we have together grown our Tourism potential not only locally but also with the World reason I was named the ‘’Silver back of the Pearl of Africa’’ because of my strength and this has done me amazing wonders I never expected. I am looking forward towards this Calender year of Athletics and harness the opportunity so as to bring victory and record back home again’’.
Joshua Cheptegei this year topped the nominees list in the Laureus Sports personality of the year 2021 awards taking on the World’s elite sportsmen thereby competing for an award with the popular sports persons such as Lebron James, Lewis Hamilton, Robert Lewandowski and Rafael Nadal among so many more.
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