This year’s Kigali MTN half-marathon, formerly known as ‘20km de Kigali’, will take place on October 20, Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) has said.The annual competition changed its name after MTN Rwanda agreed to take over its sponsorship and, as a result, the telecoms firm will have full control of advertisements in media (newspapers, radios and television), kits for participants and branded water bottles.The two parties have entered into a partnership which will cover the next three years, with an option of renewing it.The first edition, under the new name, is expected to attract over 1,000 local athletes.“The new sponsors are now MTN, not Coca Cola as it has been the case in previous years,” RAF secretary general Johnson Rukundo confirmed on Friday.“The event will be strictly for local athletes.” However, the organisers are yet to reveal how the winners will be awarded.Last year’s edition was won by Robert Kajuga (men) after clocking 57 minutes, 12 seconds and 68 micro-seconds, while Claudette Mukasakindi claimed the women’s category after running the 21km in one hour, nine minutes and eight seconds.
