OPEC Fund-sponsored rookie team from Kenya in Austria for the 41st Vienna City Marathon

April 18, 2024: The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is sponsoring a rookie team for the third year in a row to compete in the Vienna City Marathon (VCM), Austria’s largest running event on April 21. Two male and two female runners from Kenya will compete as the OPEC Fund Rookie Team and get their international debut at an event outside of their home country or Africa for the first time.

The OPEC Fund and VCM launched the innovative rookie team program in 2021 to provide an opportunity for runners from developing countries with little or no international experience to compete in a major race overseas.

The OPEC Fund’s 2024 Rookie Team comprises two female runners, Faith Chepkoech (aged 26) and Winny Kosgei (27), and two male runners, Raymond Komen (31), and Edmon Rono (29) — all from Kenya. It will be the first competition outside of Africa for Faith Chepkoech. Similarly, Raymond Komen and  Edmon Rono are marathon debutants and will be competing in a race outside their home country for the first time.

Welcoming the runners in Vienna, Maurice Makoloo, the Ambassador of Kenya said:

"It will fill me with immense pride to see our exceptional Kenyan athletes poised at the starting line of the Vienna Marathon. This year, I have the double honour of cheering them on and running alongside them. Together, we celebrate the spirit of unity and sportsmanship that marathons promote across borders.”

Thanking the OPEC Fund for its steadfast support and commitment to nurturing the next generation of Kenyan talent, the Ambassador highlighted the success of Kenyan runners in the VCM. He said:

"Kenyan runners, including the phenomenal Samuel Mailu, with his record-breaking performance last year, have dominated this event. Since 1999, Kenyan runners have won the Vienna Marathon 18 times. The last four winners have been Kenyan. This success is a testament to the hard work and indomitable spirit of Kenyan athletes, who continually elevate the standards of long-distance running. The OPEC Fund’s sponsorship of four young Kenyan runners this year is instrumental in providing these athletes the opportunities they need to shine on this global stage.”

"We are delighted to bring the partnership between the OPEC Fund for International Development and the Vienna City Marathon to life every year. Our joint OPEC Fund Rookie Team project is designed to give young runners a chance to find their path to success and make a positive difference in the world. We firmly believe that sport connects people and brings inspiration to our community," says Vienna City Marathon Managing Director Dominik Konrad.

OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said:

“We are delighted to be part of this exciting event in our host city once again and proud to support four runners from Kenya, providing a platform to launch their international careers. We wish our rookie team all the best for their race on Sunday.”

Previous OPEC Fund Rookie Team members were able to use the Vienna race as a stepping stone to further their careers. Ethiopia’s Chaltu Fikadu Marame, who finished tenth in the Vienna women’s marathon in 2:38:34 in 2022, went on to take second place at the Kassel Marathon in Germany in October 2022; she then placed second in both the Hainan Danzhou Marathon in China and the Raiffeisen Bank Bucharest Marathon in Romania. Another OPEC Fund rookie Faraja Lazaro Damasi, part of last year's team, won the 2024 Kilimanjaro Men’s Half Marathon with a time of 1:03:33.

This year is the 14th time that the OPEC Fund has sponsored the VCM. Beyond the rookie team, many OPEC Fund staff and family members will join multiple VCM races (relay, kids, etc.) to support this festive sporting event in the city. 

About the OPEC Fund 

The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed about US$27 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.