Golden Door Sports Agency in partnership with FNB Botswana have launched Botswana’s first ever premier cross-country tour.
The event, which will be known as Botswana International Cross Country Championships Continental Tour, Gaborone 2024 will be held on the 27th January 2024. FNB Botswana has sponsored the event to a tune of P500 000.
Giving a breakdown of the course, Godfrey Jeremiah, Technical Committee member says the 2km loop will encapsulate the unique and picturesque landscape of the Gaborone golf course where the event will be held.
“It is a technical course that will test both physical and mental ability,” he explains.
Furthermore, he indicated that runners will need to constantly be thinking about their pace, and positioning in the pack. There will be a couple of uphill runs that athletes will have to battle with throughout the course. Additionally, the cross-country tour will be used as a qualifier for the World Cross Country Championships set for Belgrade, Serbia in March 30, 2024.
Events to be covered on the tour involve mixed relay 4 x 2km, under 20 Women will take on 6km while under 20 men will tackle 8km. As for senior women and senior men both will undergo 10km cross country challenge.
In terms of prize monies, both senior men and women will walk away with 2000US$ for winners, second runner ups will be awarded with 1500US$, third runner ups will be handed 1000US$ and the fourth runner up will walk away with 800US$.
Under 20 winners both women and men will be awarded with 500US$, second place runner will bag 300US$, third runner will walk away with 200US$ while the fourth will take 100US$. For the mixed relay, winners will take 800US$, the second runner up will be handed 500US$ and third place will be given 200US$.
FNB Director of Marketing and Communications, Peo Porogo, thanked Botswana Golden Grand Prix for allowing FNB to walk with them in this journey. She said FNB’s interest in sport goes beyond traditional sponsorship. It reflects their dedication to a shared value strategy which is aimed to ensure that communities which FNB Botswana operates in are developed and benefit from their success.
“We wholeheartedly embrace the invaluable role of sports, recognizing its power to unite communities, inspire individuals, and serve as a catalyst for national pride as well as a source of income for our youth,” Porogo indicated.
“Our shared value strategy is not just a philosophy; it is the guiding force behind our extensive partnership with stakeholders, suppliers, employees, and communities. We have partnered with Golden Door Sports Agency before to deliver the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix 2023, a magnificent event that showcased athletic excellence. Rest assured, you can expect the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix to light up the track again this year, with FNBB once again supporting this initiative,” she highlighted.
FNBB hopes to continue to actively contribute to the multi-dimensional development of athletics in the country. For the sponsor, this event is more than just a showcase of athletic talent. It is about ‘forging a legacy, nurturing the aspirations of young talents, and positioning Botswana as a prominent destination for international sporting events.’
Countries to be featured in the Botswana International Cross Country Challenge include hosts Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Germany, Kenya, Italy, Belgium to list a few. As for participating athletes’ names have been withheld and they will be released in due course.
