The Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to the Kingdom of Denmark and the Nordic and Baltic States, H.E. Ambassador Margaret M. Otteskov, has hosted Uganda’s celebrated athlete Joshua Cheptegei & his fellow Ugandan athletes following his outstanding performance at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 2026, where he won the Bronze Medal in the Men’s Half Marathon.
The reception provided an opportunity for the Embassy to celebrate Cheptegei’s achievement and recognise his continued contribution to raising the Ugandan flag on the international athletics stage.
On behalf of the Government and People of Uganda, the Ugandan Diaspora Community in Denmark and the Embassy staff, Ambassador Otteskov congratulated Cheptegei for his performance and commended his discipline, resilience, determination and continued commitment to excellence.
The Ambassador also recognised the contribution of Cheptegei’s coaches and technical team, sponsors and partners, Uganda Athletics, the Ugandan diaspora in Denmark and across the Nordic region, as well as the Government of Uganda, whose combined support contributes to Uganda’s participation and success in international sport.
In his remarks, Cheptegei expressed appreciation to Ambassador Otteskov and the Uganda Embassy in Copenhagen for the gesture extended to him and the Ugandan athletics team.
He called for increased and sustained funding for athletics and the sports sector generally, noting that timely financial and logistical support is essential for Ugandan athletes to prepare adequately and deliver even better results on the international stage.
Cheptegei emphasised that athletics provides Uganda with a unique platform for global visibility, country branding and tourism promotion.
He observed that marketing Uganda internationally can be a costly undertaking, while success in athletics provides the country with significant global exposure through a single performance. When a Ugandan athlete wins a medal at a major international championship, the Ugandan national anthem is played, the national flag is raised, and international media attention is immediately directed towards Uganda.
According to Cheptegei, this makes the partnership between Uganda and its athletics fraternity particularly important in promoting the country as a destination for tourism, investment and international engagement.
He encouraged the Ambassador to continue advocating for greater investment in athletics, particularly to ensure that athletes receive timely logistical support, adequate preparation and the necessary resources to compete effectively at the highest level.
Ambassador Margaret stressed that the international visibility generated through athletics is complementing Uganda’s tourism and investment promotion efforts by creating awareness of the country’s natural attractions, people, culture, investment opportunities and potential as a destination for international visitors and business.
“Cheptegei’s latest achievement in Copenhagen is particularly significant because it comes on Danish soil, before the eyes of the international athletics community and the Ugandan diaspora in Denmark and across the Nordic region. Your performance once again demonstrates Uganda’s ability to compete and excel on the global stage.” Ambassador Otteskov stated.
Additionally, she encouraged young Ugandans to draw inspiration from Cheptegei’s journey, emphasising that discipline, sacrifice, hard work and faith can enable Ugandans to compete successfully among the best in the world.
Ambassador extended appreciation to all those who have contributed to Cheptegei’s continued success, including his coaches and technical team, sponsors and partners, Uganda Athletics, the Ugandan diaspora community and the Government of Uganda.
Ambassador Otteskov reaffirmed that the Embassy will continue to celebrate and support Ugandan athletes whose achievements contribute to strengthening Uganda’s international image and inspiring the next generation.
“May you continue to run with purpose, inspire generations and raise the Ugandan flag ever higher.” Ambassador Margaret M. Otteskov emphasised
The Uganda Embassy in Copenhagen congratulates Joshua Cheptegei, Team Uganda, his technical team, sponsors, partners and the Ugandan diaspora on this remarkable achievement.