🇧🇼BotswanaSouthern Africa
FNB Botswana Grand Prix set for Sunday with international athletes
via Mmegi1 min read
The annual FNB Botswana Golden Prix will take place this Sunday at the National Stadium, featuring top athletes from Botswana, Algeria, Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Congo, Ethiopia, Egypt, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Jamaica, Great Britain, Kenya, South Africa, the United States of America, and Zimbabwe. Golden Door Sports spokesperson, Calistus Kolantsho, confirmed that preparations are complete for the one-day competition, which is expected to draw a sold-out crowd. The track has received accreditation from World Athletics, ensuring that recorded times will be officially recognized. Athletes have begun arriving, with Canadian 200m Olympic champion Andre De Grasse already in Botswana. Other notable athletes, including Gabby Thomas and Ferdinand Omanyala, are expected to arrive on Saturday.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 10 countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Mmegi.
Must ReadOrano, the world's second-largest uranium producer, is pursuing 15,000 square kilometers of prospecting licenses in Botswana's Gantsi District. The company, 90% owned by the French government, has registered a local subsidiary to expedite development. Gwénaël Thomas, Orano's press office manager, confirmed that applications for 15 exploration permits are currently under review by the Department of Mines of the Ministry of Minerals and Energy of Botswana. Exploration activities are slated to commence once the necessary administrative authorizations are granted.
Nearly 11,000 runners from various countries, including Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Australia, Spain, Turkey, and India, are set to participate in the Diacore Gaborone Marathon on Sunday. A total of 10,841 athletes have registered for the event, which features a 4-kilometer race with 821 participants, a 10-kilometer race with 8,180 participants, a 21-kilometer race with 1,494 participants, and the 42.2-kilometer marathon with 356 participants. According to marathon spokesperson Tshepiso Baipidi, registration for the 2026 event closed earlier than in previous years, indicating growing demand. Registration opened in November 2025 and concluded in January 2026. Baipidi noted that the increasing international participation solidifies the Diacore Gaborone Marathon's position as a premier marathon event in the region.
Must ReadThe World Bank has identified significant structural deficiencies within Botswana's tourism sector, according to findings commissioned by the government. These findings, presented by the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi, at the 41st Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana HATAB conference in Maun, highlight the country's excessive reliance on high-end wildlife tourism. The report warns that this dependency, coupled with inadequate infrastructure and a slow pace of diversification, poses a threat to the sector's long-term growth and its ability to remain competitive.
Business Botswana, the country's largest private sector lobby group, is engaging the government on the ongoing fuel price crisis, which has been exacerbated by the Middle East conflict. The organization is proposing several solutions, including a review of the exchange rate, temporary suspension of certain levies and subsidies, and a review of import restrictions. Business Botswana officials met with Trade and Entrepreneurship permanent secretary, Joel Ramaphoi, to discuss interventions aimed at reducing the impact of fuel price increases. Mpaphi Tsholofelo, Business Botswana's head of policy and research, stated that many businesses are already facing cost pressures, particularly from high importation expenses from suppliers and manufacturers.