Orange Cameroun commits to bring colour to 2023 Mt Cameroon Race.

Officials of the company said the fresh move is aimed at valourising the culture of the Bakweri people in particular and the South West region in general.

They made the disclosure Wednesday February 1, in Buea. This was during a press conference with officials of the Cameroon Athletics Federation.

The President of the Cameroon Athletics Federation, Motomby Emmanuel Mbome, used the presser to present Orange Cameroun as the main sponsor of this year’s edition of the mountain race.

Addressing the media and other stakeholders at the press conference, the Project Management Officer at the Marketing and Communication Department of Orange Cameroun, Gisela Musi Lum, said their goal is to promote culture and bring colour to the yearly event.

“It is an opportunity for us to bring out the beautiful culture of the Bakweri people to the world. Orange Cameroun is all about bringing more colour to this already colourful event that we are going to be witnessing throughout the month of February with the peak of it being on February 25, with the race,” Musi Lum told reporters.

The present sponsorship agreement, she added, will last for two years, after which the company will assess it and then devise a way forward.

In this light, Musi Lum said, Orange Cameroun will be present in promoting culture of the South West people before, during and after the race in Buea, so that people can better appreciate the culture, customs and tradition of the people of the region.

Musi Lum said Orange Cameroon has already deployed teams to mobilise and galvanise the population ahead of the 50^th anniversary of the race.

“We will mobilise and galvanise the population of Buea, so that they come out and enjoy the nostalgia that we have had around the race. So, we will be celebrating the legacy of the race 50 years on since it started, with dedicated teams and caravans so that activations and interactions are excellent,” Musi Lum disclosed.

Enter Athletics Federation president

On his part, the President of the Cameroon Athletics Federation, Emmanuel Motomby Mbome, said the federation will be celebrating 50 years of success and growth of the race, since its first edition held in 1973.

He said a lot has changed in 50 years, with the winner (s) in 2023, allocated a cash prize of 10 million FCFA as opposed to 30, 000 FCFA which the winner (s) took home in 1973.

“With a new mandate and fortunately 50 years on, all of us need to put our hands on deck to ensure this event is good. We have to join efforts to ensure that activities in all towns from the South West region should boom before, during and after the race,” the athletics federation boss told reporters.

Motomby Mbome also indicated that 600 athletes will challenge the chariots of the gods in this year’s race compared to 500 who participated last year.

He attributed the increase to the popularity of the race. He disclosed that so far, 56 foreign athletes from 12 countries have already indicated their zeal to take part in the 2023 mountain race.