23 Jan 2022

International athletes have shown interest in the FNB Kazungula Bridge Marathon billed for Kasane on February 26.

Speaking during a press conference recently, marathon chief executive officer, Obert Morgan, said they had registered a high number of Kenyans who would compete in the marathon.

He said other distance runners who had shown interest in competing in the marathon were from Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

He said since Kasane was also a tourist destination, they had also received registration forms from athletes in the United States of America, Canada and New Zealand.

Obert said he was happy that preparations for the  marathon were going well and that some sponsors had come on board.

He said the objective of the marathon was to position Botswana and the Chobe District, in particular, as a tourism destination of choice.

He also said the event was meant to highlight and celebrate the iconic Kazungula Bridge as a magnificent superstructure and tourist attraction.

He added that the other objective was to shine the spotlight on the unique position of Chobe as the meeting point of four countries of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as the majestic Chobe and Zambezi rivers.

FNB communications and public relations manager, Boga-Chilinde Masebu, said her organisation was sponsoring the marathon with P1 million.

She said her bank did not only practice health and well-being, but also believed in the principles of shared value.

She added that the shared value enabled them to play a part in advancing the social and economic conditions of Batswana.

The winner of the 42.2 kilometre race will pocket P50 000 while number two will win P22 000.

The third placed runner will walk away with P18 000.

The veterans champion will pocket P15 000 and the runner-up P8 500 while position three will be rewarded with P6 000. ENDS