BOTSWANA INTERNATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY LAUNCHES

A gateway to World Cross-Country championships

Participants in the Botswana International Cross-Country Continental Tour will have the opportunity to qualify for the world cross country championships.

This is a golden opportunity for local distance runners who have long dreamed of qualifying for a major event. Just last weekend, longdistance runners from the region and locals gathered in Kopong for the Lefika athletics club cross country event, which is seen as a warm-up for the upcoming tour. The long and middle-distance marathons at the Botswana International Cross-Country Tour are expected to draw athletes from around the world, as well as from other SADC countries, according to the event organiser from Golden Door Sports Agency, Godfrey Jeremiah. He expressed his excitement at being able to secure the gold status for the event, which he believes will be a huge success. “In cross-country races, you run through different kinds of terrain and obstacles, so it’s important to have good technique and stamina. This will be the first race of its kind in Botswana and the region, and we’re incredibly excited to bring it to life. We’ll have a variety of races, including long-distance relays. We’re known for putting on world-class events, and this one will be no exception,” Jeremiah said.

Jeremiah explained that the event will include a 4x2 mixed relay, a 6km under-20 women’s race, an 8km under-20 men’s race, a 10km senior women’s race, and a 10km senior men’s race. The awards ceremony will be held between races, and the winners will receive their prize money in dollars. He highlighted that the event will be broadcast on multiple channels, and that spectators are welcome to attend the showcase at Gaborone Golf Club. He mentioned that the golf club had offered them the venue for free and is one of their partners for the event. To ensure the success of the Botswana International Cross-Country Tour, First National Bank Botswana has stepped up as the main sponsor with a sponsorship of BWP 500,000.00. The funds will be used to plan, organize, and host the event, and will also include prize money for the athletes.

Speaking during the event launch, Peo Porogo, FNB Botswana’s Director of Marketing and Communications, shared the bank’s enthusiasm and commitment to supporting sports in Botswana. Porogo expressed the bank’s confidence in the event and its ability to bring the country together in a positive way. “At FNBB, our interest in sports goes beyond traditional sponsorship; it reflects our dedication to a shared value strategy aimed at ensuring that communities in which FNB Botswana operates are developed and benefit from our success,” she said.