Marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge will feature on Safaricom PLC’s M-Pesa logo for the next seven days as the world baits its breath ahead of his 1:59 Ineos challenge slated for a day between October 12-14.
“To show our commitment and respect to our icon, we will be changing our M-PESA brand for the next 7 days,” tweeted the Kenyan telecommunication giant.
Kipchoge, who flew out of the country on Monday to Vienna, is looking to set a new world record running time of less than two hours for the 42 Km marathon race, his 2018 record standing at 2:01:39 hours.
To show our commitment and respect to our icon @EliudKipchoge, we will be changing our M-PESA brand for the next 7 days. Our new logo will be the five letters spelling Kipchoge’s first name, “Eliud” and the numbers “1:59” to denote the challenge. #Eliud159 pic.twitter.com/GtZRHrrRBV
— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) October 9, 2019
The decision by Safaricom to temporarily change the M-Pesa logo in honour of Kipchoge adds to the numerous acts of support that the athletics champion has been receiving ahead of the race, including being flown to Vienna aboard a Ksh2.4 billion private jet.
Further, Safaricom pledged to provide free YouTube access to enable Kenyans watch Kipchoge “make history.”
`We'll be providing free YouTube to enable you watch #eliudkipchoge make history' – @SafaricomPLC #eliud159 pic.twitter.com/v0b4giQ4Na
— Droid (@droid254) October 9, 2019
Kipchoge has already begun warm-up training on the course where he is expected to set history.
Posted by Eliud Kipchoge on Wednesday, 9 October 2019
During the main event, he will be guided by 41 elite pacemakers from all over the world, who he has been training with in preparation for his D-day.
The date of the race is targeted at between October 12-14 and the final decision willbe made later on Wednesday, with the weather being one of the main points of consideration.
It is reported that the organisers of the Ineos 1:59 are in consultation with weather experts to recommend the day when weather metrics such as humidity will be conducive for the race.
Kipchoge was awarded the Laureus Academy’s Exceptional Achievement award in February by the IAAF.