Bucket Tech: HUAWEI Partners with Olympic Champion Tatjana Smith

According to HUAWEI South Africa, the team believes that Tatjana and HUAWEI are a perfect match, blending the relentless pursuit of excellence in sport with innovative and creative technology. Tatjana’s dedication to fitness and her sport aligns with HUAWEI’s growing dominance in wearable devices, which tracks performance and health metrics with precision, empowering athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. HUAWEI’s smartphone and camera technologies also capture the spirit of achievement, allowing fans to connect with Tatjana’s journey in vivid detail.

"Swimming has been more than just a sport to me, it has contributed to shaping my character and has afforded me the privilege to represent my country and give back to a community that has supported me along the journey. Partnering with HUAWEI feels like a natural fit because, like me, HUAWEI is committed to excellence and innovation. Their focus on fitness and technology resonates with my own dedication to a healthy lifestyle and performance, and I'm excited to partner with a brand that not only leads in technology but also shares my values of perseverance and pushing boundaries," says Tatjana.

 “This partnership brings together two champions—Tatjana in the pool and HUAWEI in the tech world—both committed to breaking new ground and inspiring a healthier, more stylish future for South Africans,” says Peter Feng, General Manager, HUAWEI South Africa Consumer Business Group.

South Africa’s True Golden Girl

Tatjana has solidified her place as one of South Africa's most iconic athletes, firmly placing herself in the annals of history and taking the nation's swimming legacy to new heights. With her recent triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she clinched gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m breaststroke, Tatjana added another chapter to her storied career.

Her dominance in the pool is underlined by her World, Olympic and African record-breaking performance and gold medal in the 200m breaststroke at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), where she shattered a nearly decade-old record, showcasing her unparalleled skill and determination. She also clinched silver in the 100m breaststroke at the same event and broke the Olympic record, which she still holds, in the heats.

Beyond the Olympics, Tatjana has dominated at the Commonwealth Games, where she earned gold medals in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke. She has also excelled in the African Swimming Championships and the FINA World Championships, where her performances consistently placed her on the podium. Domestically, Tatjana has been celebrated as South Africa's Sports Star of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year and has set numerous records at the University of Pretoria, establishing herself as a trailblazer in South African sports.

Legacy of Excellence and Innovation

Her commitment to her sport and her country is evident in every stroke, as every time she competed, she carried the hopes of a nation, and her relentless pursuit of excellence has earned her recognition as South Africa's greatest Olympian.

Tatjana’s golden stroke in the pool mirrors HUAWEI’s gold standard in the tech world, especially with its Fashion Forward brand. As she has swam her way into history, HUAWEI powers forward in South Africa, championing fitness and innovation. Together, they’re setting a new pace, where style, performance and health lead the way. Dive into the future with Tatjana and HUAWEI.

Bucket Tech: Huawei's MEA Summit

The HDC.Together HUAWEI MEA Ecosystem Summit, held in Dubai, showcased a seamless fusion of collaboration and innovation. The first day of the exclusive event was hosted on the 27th of November at the illustrious Dubai Opera, and brought together Huawei Ecosystem partners from China and across the Middle East and Africa.

Building bridges for future growth

Organised in partnership with Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), the focus of the summit was on fostering innovation, economic growth, and developments in technology and tourism.

When converging technology and opportunity, HDC.Together acts as the bridge connecting the MEA region and China, fostering innovation, partnerships, and business exchange across markets, paving the way for growth and a better future.

Throughout the summit, speakers emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts within Huawei’s Ecosystem for advancing technology and innovation. Eng. Maryam Al Balooshi, Vice Chair and UAE representative of the Committee of Aviation Environment Protection (CAEP)- ICAO, emphasised that, “In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Huawei’s ecosystem stands as a testament to transformative collaboration, enriching experiences by building bridges for a better future.”

Additionally, His Excellency Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, Secretary-General of HIPA, shared some profound insights. “Through the lens of innovation, HUAWEI Themes has not just adorned our digital spaces but has become a platform to globalise the beauty of art and photography, making creativity universally accessible to users with an impressive download of over 1,000,000 on the official HUAWEI Themes store,” he said.

Acclaimed Emirati artist Mahmood Al Abadi shared the story of his successful journey with calligraphy and arts, as well as his collaboration with HUAWEI Themes, and how it elevated his digital experience. He expressed his excitement about the vast array of customisable themes and their seamless integration with HUAWEI smartphones, foldable phones, tablets and smartwatches.

Strategising for the year ahead

The event outlined a comprehensive 2024 action plan with 24 strategic partners joining the conversation, formalising commitments to innovation and growth across regions including the Emirates, Arabian Oud, Jahez and Viu, all who expressed their commitment to these shared goals.

The summit featured dynamic discussion panels and round tables, engaging industry experts to provide insights into industry trends, and further explored the collaborative potential of HUAWEI AppGallery and Petal Ads.

Unveiling Prospects with AppGallery

With a focus on fostering new growth opportunities in gaming, HUAWEI AppGallery is taking advantage of Huawei’s rapid expansion across the MEA region and China. The summit also served as a platform for facilitating partnerships and collaboration between local and global players, fostering an environment of innovation and mutual growth. Participants were treated to working presentations and demos, sharing insights, case studies and success stories from top regional and global gaming partners, offering a overview of the latest market trends. Industry leaders joined the MEA Game Business Trends panel, unpacking esports, Government support, the payment landscape and the importance of localisation. The summit set the stage for AppGallery to stake its claim as a driving force in the gaming industry, uniting key players for a future of unprecedented success and collaboration.

Global perspective

Emirates provided an insightful account of its journey with Huawei Ecosystem, highlighting their successful collaboration and providing valuable benchmarks for the broader travel industry, emphasising the power of strategic partnerships within the evolving technological landscape. This year, Emirates App successfully released a version designed for Huawei’s smartwatches that allows users to use QR codes as boarding passes.

Petal Ads and regional insights

 Additionally, Middle East Communications Network (MCN) provided a comprehensive analysis of global and regional advertising trends tailored for regional advertisers. This included an in-depth overview of the current global advertising landscape, emerging trends, consumer behaviour patterns, and effective strategies. The presentation highlighted Petal Ads’ advanced capabilities in delivering enriched user experiences, setting the stage for a new era in the advertising market.

The summit delivered the perfect platform for HMS to introduce new solutions and innovations, underscoring a commitment to connect with customers, enable brand growth, and embrace future challenges. Ultimately, the annual HDC.Together HUAWEI MEA Ecosystem Summit highlighted Huawei’s unwavering dedication to fostering collaboration, innovation, and a connected future, showcasing knowledge sharing and cutting-edge solutions within Huawei’s thriving ecosystem, while uniting partners from China and MEA.