ORANGE PHIKWE MARATHON RETURNS
Orange Botswana, in partnership with the Selebi Phikwe Town Council and the Local Organising Committee have come to an agreement to return the exciting Orange Phikwe National Marathon. Having come to an abrupt halt due to COVID-19, the resumption of the marathon will bring a renewed hope for the residents of SelebiPhikwe and runners alike.
According to a press release from Orange Botswana, The Orange Phikwe National Marathon has been a great platform for sports talent discovery, being the longest running marathon in the country. The event promotes tourism and offers great support and opportunities for the business people of Selibe- Phikwe and surrounding areas. Through the press release, Orange Botswana further states that the race has been of significant impact on the community, directly and indirectly, in efforts to grow the town’s economy.
For her part, Orange Botswana Communication and Public Relations Manager, Ratang Motladiile said, “It is without a shadow of a doubt that the Orange Phikwe National Marathon brings excitement and vitality to the town of Selibe-Phikwe and
the country at large. We have a long standing commitment to athletics through this marathon and other sporting codes; we are also committed to supporting the residents of SelebiPhikwe and surrounding communities, who benefit from this marathon in many ways. It is a great honor to help realise meaningful and tangible community development.”
This year, the marathon is slated for the 23rd of July 2022, with the start and finishing points being at the Selebi-Phikwe Sam Sono Stadium. By virtue of status, it is expected to attract both national and international runners, ranging from professionals to amateurs. Those participating can choose from a selection of four races: 5 km Fun Run registered at P100 per person, 10 km Run registered at P150 per person, 21.1 km Half Marathon registered at P200 per person and 42.2 km Marathon registered at P250, per person
“It is through this marathon that we hope to uplift the community and instill a strong sense of unity amongst the residents of Selebi-Phikwe, as we all come together for health and wellness. We take great pride in the partnerships we have developed with various stakeholders over the years and hope that through the revenue generated from the marathon, there will be more community development and investments from here on and beyond,” Motladiile said.
The 2019 Orange Phikwe National Marathon was won by a local runner in the men’s category, Rapula Diphoko and female category was won by Monicah Jepkorir from Zimbabwe.
“This year’s marathon is expected to be more fun and better as we are anticipating to see new faces participating in the race. Registrations will be open on May 1st 2022 and interested participants can register online at www.selebiphikwemarathon.com.”