30 Jan 2025

Some international athletes have already confirmed participation at the second edition of Botswana International Cross Country (BICC) which will be held at the Glody Dube International School and Sports Academy in Modipane on February 8.

Speaking at the launch of the event in Modipane recently, event organiser and director of Golden Door Sports Agency, Glody Dube said they were expecting local and international runners at the race, pointing that some participants from Zimbabwe, Seychelles, South Africa had already confirmed their participation.

He said this year’s event would not have a short course, but the long course where participants in both men and women categories would compete in the 10km race. The junior men, he said would battle it out in the 8km race while ladies would compete in the 6km event.

In the youth category (17 years and below), he said men would compete in 6km race and their women counterpart in 4km race, adding that they would be an 8km mixed relay.

He said one of the main aims of the cross-country event was to give local athletes the opportunity to use the competition as a qualifier for the Regional Cross Country and 2026 World Cross Country competitions respectively. 

Though, this year’s event was cash strapped, he was hopeful that it would be a success like the previous competiton, which was bankrolled by First National Bank Botswana. He assured spectators and competitors that they would engage horse marshals, private security and the police to ensure that the mouthwatering event ran smoothly.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) South Central chairperson, Tebatso Omphitlhetse said they moved the event to Modipane to take the sport to the people.  

“Our view is that if the race is hosted in Modipane, the residents will come in large numbers to witness and learn what this sport entails,” she said.

Kgosi Fanuel Mokalake of Modipane said he was amongst the band of elders who pleaded for the event to find its home in Modipane.

By convincing Dube, Kgosi Makalake said he acted on activating the norm that leaders should be involved in encouraging the youth thus assuring his community that they too could benefit from the race in terms of renting stalls as well as accommodating guests for those who had guest houses around.

He said they would continue to keep mobilising residents to come and fill the venue so that the race stayed in their village forever. ENDS