04 Aug 2019

Orange Botswana has signed a new P660 000 sponsorship deal for the Orange Phikwe Marathon, marking a fourth consecutive year that the company has sponsored the annual marathon spectacular.

Orange Botswana director of legal and corporate affairs, Lepata Mafa-Nthumole said the sponsorship was a testament of their continued efforts to sports development and unearthing athletic talent in the country.

She noted that the sponsorship would be an important milestone in athletics since the marathon was a big event recognised by the international Association of Athletics Federation.

Mafa-Nthumole also stated that the event continued to attract local and international athletes from Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa by virtue of its accreditation status in the international athletics arena.

Mafa-Nthumole said they introduced a new 21.1 km half marathon to the highly anticipated event for all runners, including amateurs and children, in addition to the 10km marathon as well as the 42.2 km run.

She said this year they had a new partnership programme with Botswana Athletics Association, Selibe Phikwe teaching community and Gaborone Striders Running Club. The partnership will introduce a corporate social responsibility programme aimed at identifying and uplifting youth that are already competing at national level.

Mafa-Nthumole said the identified youth would be sponsored with equipment, nutrition and transport for them to compete regularly with fellow runners at international level.

Mafa-Nthumole also said the Orange Phikwe marathon was not only a platform for sports development, but further served as a means of bringing families, friends, communities and other groups together over the love of sports, health and well-being.

She called on stakeholders, sponsors and volunteers to collaborate in growing the marathon further.

The marathon will be held on September 14 and has the support of Botswana Athletics Association, Gaborone Striders Running Club and Selibe Phikwe Town Council. ENDS