Makau earns Mission 3000 Microsoft sponsorship

American technology firm Microsoft has selected John Makau, a member of Special Olympics Kenya’s team, as their sponsored athlete for the Mission 3000 challenge.

The Mission 3000 challenge is a Special Olympics initiative that aims to support athletes competing in the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria.

Makau joins 29 other athletes across the globe sponsored through the same program.

“Makau has established himself as a Floor Hockey athlete and has been involved with Special Olympics for the last four years,” Microsoft Country Manager, Kunle Awosika said.

In 2015, Microsoft and Special Olympics successfully migrated the organization’s Games Management System (GMS) to the cloud for the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles.

It marked the first time in the organization’s nearly 50 year history that it was able to manage the system in a centralized cloud from a single data set (6500 athletes in 15 different venues over 10 days of competition).

Microsoft will continue to support Special Olympics through technology by providing hardware and software to run operations for the World Winter Games.

Microsoft’s mission is about allowing people to achieve more. In support of the Special Olympics World Winter Games, Microsoft is glad to be part of developing a better world by stimulating the acceptance and inclusion of all people.

This program presents a grand opportunity to get involved, help cheer on local Special Olympics athletes and amplify their story in Kenya and across the continent.

“At Microsoft, we believe diversity makes our work and communities stronger. That’s why we are proud to support Special Olympics and their athletes in the pursuit of their passions in sport and beyond in the lead-up to the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria,” Kunle said while speaking during the Meet and Greet session with the Special Olympics Kenya team at the Nyayo National Stadium.

“John, we are excited to support you and look forward to engaging you and the Special Olympics team on this journey to the 2017 World Winter Games in Austria,“ Kunle added.

“We are proud of our association with Microsoft for the special olympics 2017. The support they have given the team goes a long way to show that diversity and inclusion should be part of any organisation that considers itself progressive.

We shall continue to cultivate this relationship to ensure that we prosper together and jointly support the development of the special Olympics not only in Kenya but globally” said a representative of the special Olympics committee in Nairobi.