Samsung Mobile SA has confirmed a multimillion-rand sponsorship of Team MTN-Qhubeka for a three-year period, starting January 2013.
The sponsorship will not only see Samsung Mobile supporting the MTN-Qhubeka pro-continental cycling team financially; a percentage of Samsung Galaxy smartphone and tablet sales will also be used to fuel the Qhubeka World Bicycle Relief Programme.
"We are proud to be able to sponsor team MTN-Qhubeka, as this is the first African cycling team that will be partaking in local and global events, with the dream of participating in the Tour de France in 2014," says Craige Fleischer, director of mobile communications at Samsung SA.
"Through Qhubeka, the sponsorship has focused on sustainability, youth empowerment, transforming education and healthcare. The work Qhubeka does with giving bicycles to children in return for work done to improve their environment delivers hope for children and communities, which is an extension of our global Hope for Children initiative," adds Fleischer.
The benefits of the Qhubeka project not only include reducing the time it takes for children to walk to school, but allows children to get to school on time without exhaustion or fatigue, which aids concentration levels and improves the learning experience, Samsung adds.
According to Samsung, Qhubeka aids in access to services, such as education and skills development, and healthcare and community services that may have been previously lacking, through providing the communities with a means of transport.
"Through Qhubeka and World Bicycle Relief, bicycles are being provided across Africa while team MTN-Qhubeka is developing African sporting icons as its riders take on the greatest cycling races in the world," adds Doug Ryder, team principal at MTN-Qhubeka Cycling.
"MTN-Qhubeka is making history as Africa's first-ever UCI-registered pro-continental team, and in 2013, team MTN-Qhubeka will comprise 60% to 70% riders from SA and the African continent."
"As an innovator and a company committed to growing Africa and realising the continent's potential through technology and consumer electronics, Samsung is proud to sponsor Team MTN-Qhubeka, as this partnership is sure to mobilise more people on the African continent - creating opportunity, independence and champions - everything our brand stands for," concludes Fleischer.
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