News / Regional
Binga Marathon gets global recognition
14 Aug 2011 at 06:31hrs | Views
This year's Binga, Kujatana Nkubotu 21km Peace Half Marathon participants will have their efforts recognised by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).
The global recognition follows the successful marking of the race route by an IAAF course marker, which becomes the first race in Zimbabwe to be accorded such status by the world athletics governing body.
South African-based official Pieter de Jager was recently in Binga together with Abel Manyumeka, the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) representative for Matabeleland North, marking the race route.
The Binga Half Marathon is an annual race staged by Twalumba Foundation to commemorate the International Day of Peace on September 21.
An estimated 1 300 athletes drawn from Binga district comprising pupils and residents as well as top long-distance athletes from across Zimbabwe are expected to take part in the marathon that will be held on September 24, the nearest Saturday to the UN day.
The United Nations has announced that the theme for this year is "Make Your Voice Heard". Twalumba Foundation has translated the theme into the local Tonga dialect, "Ijwi Lakho Lijwikwe".
The country's richest athletics event with a total package of US$215 000 was launched at the Oliver Mtukudzi-owned Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton last week and was attended by the members of the national sports media, including officials of the organising committee based in Binga.
Race convenor Miriam Sibanda, who is deputy patron of the Twalumba Foundation, said they were hoping to attract an impressive field of runners following on last year when Kudakwashe Shoko outpaced a classy field to win the men's event while Sharon Tawengwa came tops among the women, beating perennial campaigners like Thabitha Tsatsa and the Chokore sisters.
"We are hoping athletes participating at the All-Africa Games from September 3 to 23 will have finished their events in time to make it to Binga," said Sibanda.
She also announced a mini-cultural festival in Binga to precede the marathon. The mini festival will showcase Tonga dances and artifacts that include their famed wood carvings and baskets.
The global recognition follows the successful marking of the race route by an IAAF course marker, which becomes the first race in Zimbabwe to be accorded such status by the world athletics governing body.
South African-based official Pieter de Jager was recently in Binga together with Abel Manyumeka, the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) representative for Matabeleland North, marking the race route.
The Binga Half Marathon is an annual race staged by Twalumba Foundation to commemorate the International Day of Peace on September 21.
An estimated 1 300 athletes drawn from Binga district comprising pupils and residents as well as top long-distance athletes from across Zimbabwe are expected to take part in the marathon that will be held on September 24, the nearest Saturday to the UN day.
The United Nations has announced that the theme for this year is "Make Your Voice Heard". Twalumba Foundation has translated the theme into the local Tonga dialect, "Ijwi Lakho Lijwikwe".
The country's richest athletics event with a total package of US$215 000 was launched at the Oliver Mtukudzi-owned Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton last week and was attended by the members of the national sports media, including officials of the organising committee based in Binga.
Race convenor Miriam Sibanda, who is deputy patron of the Twalumba Foundation, said they were hoping to attract an impressive field of runners following on last year when Kudakwashe Shoko outpaced a classy field to win the men's event while Sharon Tawengwa came tops among the women, beating perennial campaigners like Thabitha Tsatsa and the Chokore sisters.
"We are hoping athletes participating at the All-Africa Games from September 3 to 23 will have finished their events in time to make it to Binga," said Sibanda.
She also announced a mini-cultural festival in Binga to precede the marathon. The mini festival will showcase Tonga dances and artifacts that include their famed wood carvings and baskets.
Source - TSM
