When runners lace up their shoes for an early morning start at the Orange Phikwe National Marathon, a celebration ten years in the making will commence. This year’s event will be a celebration of a decade of changing lives. A decade of dedicated partnership to revive and reposition Selibe-Phikwe as a place to live in, play in and invest in.
A decade ago, Orange Botswana started its relationship with the then Selebi-Phikwe National Marathon, also formerly known as Bosele Marathon. For decades since being founded in 1985, this marathon was just a local sporting event in the then mining town of Selebi-Phikwe.
The marathon however took a much more significant meaning post the closure of the BCL mine. The mine had been a cornerstone of Phikwe’s economy. Following its closure, the town became all but a ghost town.
As the town looked to diversify its own economy and resuscitate, sport, and the marathon in particular, became crucial. It became a focal point for the stimulation of the local economy.
The marathon has successfully positioned Selebi-Phikwe as an emerging sports tourism destination. With the arrival of Orange Botswana as the main sponsor, the marathon evolved. It turned into a national marathon, attracting hundreds of runners and spectators.
This influx of visitors during the event injects a lease of life into the dying blood veins of Selebi-Phikwe. During the marathon weekend, accommodation facilities experienced a boom in bookings. Street vendors, transport operators, retailers and small businesses also experience a surge in business.
Orange Botswana Public Relations and Communication Manager Tebogo Nadisah says ‘the Orange Phikwe National Marathon has grown into much more than a sporting event.’
“It has become a platform that stimulates economic activity, supports local businesses and creates meaningful opportunities for communities in Selebi-Phikwe,” she says.
As part of its corporate social investment efforts, Orange Botswana has used the marathon platform to drive educational and digital inclusion projects in Selebi-Phikwe, including donations of learning equipment and digital tools to local schools.
The company has also supported long-term initiatives such as digital classrooms and Women’s Digital Centres aimed at empowering youth with digital skills and entrepreneurship opportunities.
On the sporting front, the marathon continues to play a significant role in athletic development by providing a competitive platform for runners under official athletics structures.
“We have seen the marathon create real opportunities for athletes, from grassroots participation to elite competition. It provides a credible stage for talent identification and athlete development while inspiring the next generation of runners,” Nadisah says.
Further to this, Nadisah says Orange Botswana, working in collaboration with other stakeholders, including the Selebi-Phikwe Town Council and the Botswana Athletics Association, are working ‘to identify and support promising young athletes through nutrition, equipment and travel assistance.’
“As we celebrate 10 years of the Orange Phikwe National Marathon, we are proud of the impact this event has had not only in athletics but in transforming lives, empowering communities and contributing to the economic revival of Selebi-Phikwe,” she says.
