Organisers of the annual Mmadinare Xmas 10km race have promised to deliver a bigger and fun-filled family day during this year’s holidays.
Unlike in the past, the organisers have promised to deliver an all-inclusive event.
According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Mmadinare Athletics Club Ipolokeng Ramatshaba, who are the organisers of the event, this year’s race is expected to attract the cream of Botswana’s road race athletes.
“Over the years, we have managed to get the best of Botswana’s athletes to compete in this race. As the cross country race season is about to start early next year, this race is mostly used as a warm-up and we expect to see a lot of our athletes,” Ramatshaba explained.
With some interesting prizes on offer for top 10 athletes at the race, the Mmadinare Athletics Club PRO said they were already experiencing a lot of interest from both local and regional athletes.
“We have very interesting prize packages, with all top 10 finishers expected to get some cash prize from the race. We have ensured that while we have competitive cash prizes for positons one to five, we also have some consolation prizes for those coming in positions six to 10,” he explained.
The prize packages, according to Ramatshaba, comes courtesy of sponsors who have partnered with the organisers, among them main sponsor, Mascom Wireless. Other sponsors are the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Cultural Development (MYSC), Bamangwato Toyota and African Alliance, just to mention a few.
Ramatshaba said it is through their partnership with MYSC that the organisers were able to ensure the event became an all inclusive family fun day.
He said while MYSC has given out at least P61 000 as sponsorship, only P30 000 will go towards the race, while the rest will be used to facilitate some cultural sport activities as which are expected to take place on race day.
Among the cultural activities added to the event are traditional choirs, morabaraba and Nxai. Other favourite activities included will be football, egg race, sack race and mountain bikes.
Meanwhile, Ramatshaba has assured that all prize monies for the race will be paid when the race ends.
He said unlike in the past, the organisers have arranged that all athletes and officials be paid their dues immediately after the event as sponsors have all transacted sponsorship monies into the accounts of the club.
The race will take place on Christmas day. The theme of the event this year is transition “50 to 50 passing of the baton” to officially welcome its new patron, Member of Parliament for Mmadinare Kefentse Mzwinila.
The first race which is 5km will start at 6am and will be followed by the 10km main race at 6.30am.
