With less than a week to go, marathon fever has gripped Gaborone ahead of the fourth annual Diacore Gaborone Marathon (previously Steinmetz Gaborone Marathon). This year has already proven to be a bumper year for the annual charitable sporting event, with over 4,000 participants having been registered, causing the previously extended deadline for registration to ultimately close early to avoid over subscription.
This year’s Marathon is set to take place on 30th March 2014 at The Grand Palm Resort with weather forecasted to be cool and partly cloudy. This is the second consecutive year in which Stanbic Bank Botswana serves as a Diamond sponsor of the event. 2014 has also seen an increase in the number of corporates sponsoring the event, and with over 100 corporates registered. Local businesses have also upped the ante in staff team participation. Stanbic Bank Botswana continues to lead the charge with 255 members of staff participating in this year’s Marathon. In addition to this, 39 different countries will be participating in this year’s event.
“One of the most exciting things about the marathon this year is the use of the chip system. The participants will all sport a chip so as to have their times read electronically recorded in an effort to embrace a greater sense of accuracy, efficiency and healthy competition as part of the marathon,” said Ruth Modisane, Public Relations Manager, Stanbic Bank Botswana. “We look forward to seeing the efforts invested in making this year’s Marathon an even greater success come to fruition and are grateful to be able to come on board once again.”
The Gaborone Marathon, with Diacore as its title sponsor since 2012, was first launched by PGM Foundation in 2010 and is is an international qualifier for major races and Botswana’s largest running-for-charity event. Proceeds from the registration fees are awarded to official charities, with P430,000.00 having been donated in 2013 to different charities. These included Lady Khama Charitable Trust, BOSASNet, Bana Ba Metsi, Camphill Charitable Trust and Stepping Stones. More information on this year’s recipients will be provided at a later date after the event.
Sponsors for this year’s event include Diacore, Stanbic Bank, Mascom, GIA, Primassure, Grand Palm, Coca Cola and media partner Yarona FM.