06 May 2024

The Diacore Gaborone Marathon does not only boost the host city, but the whole country at large as well as ordinary Batswana.

First Lady Neo Masisi said this at the closing ceremony of the annual marathon in Gaborone on Sunday. Ms Masisi also said the wide representation of countries during the marathon was an affirmation that sport was a global unifier.

“Apart from that, it also brings good health and longevity,” she said. Ms Masisi also appreciated Diacore for ploughing back into the community, more so that the company traded in diamonds, which are the pillar of the national economy. “I would also personally like to thank Diacore for supporting some of my initiatives, such as the development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes at Marakanelo Junior Secondary School in Charleshill,” she said.

She also mentioned a life-coaching centre in Rakops that addresses gender-based violence.

Ms Masisi also said this year through the assistance from the proceeds of the marathon, she was planning to assist an animal conservation project in Tsabong as well as underprivileged women in Nata.

Meanwhile, athletes who participated in the marathon have also appreciated it. The winner of the women's 21km race, Abigail Jerop from Kenya said the race was challenging, as were the other races she had completed in locally.

“I had to dig deep to beat my closest competitor. That is despite training for this marathon for three months,” she said.

Zimbabwean Abel Chibanda, who won the men's 21km category, indicated that the flat course was very good for elite runners like him as it helped them prepare for elite competitions such as World Athletics and All Africa Games. He said he was also happy to have improved from his position two last year to clinching gold this year. ENDS