The inaugural Spar Gondwana Moon Valley Marathon was launched here on Tuesday, with athletes expected to compete in three different categories.
The marathon will be held in Swakopmund during the weekend of 19 March 2022 in Swakopmund.
Athletes interested in competing in the event can register for the 10 kilometres (km) fun run, half-marathon (21km) and full marathon (42km).
Speaking during the launch, Francoise Lotter, Retail Operation Manager at Spar Group, said they partnered with Gondwana as part of their social responsibility.
“COVID-19 hit us hard and it was tough to make business but we are now back to hosting an event that will see a lot of Namibians running and winning money as that is our way of giving back to the Namibian nation,” he said.
Steny Watermeyer, Direct Sales Manager at Gondwana Collection, also said that the idea behind hosting the marathon is to create something fun.
“This is going to be a trail marathon that will see athletes running around a route that is designed in a moon shape around Swakopmund,” she said.
Registration for the event opened on Tuesday and will close on 14 March 2022.
“The event will only register 200 athletes per event and therefore people are requested to register early via the Moon Valley or Gondwana website. Registration is N.dollars 250 for a full marathon and half marathon while the fun run will be N.dollars 150,” said Watermeyer, who stated that the winning prize monies will only be announced in due course.
Speaking at the same occasion, Jo-Ann Manuel, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, said the government has struggled financially for the past seven years and initiatives from the corporate sector are always welcomed.
“As a ministry, our budget has been cut for the past seven years, which makes it difficult for us to host events as we should, but credit must be given to our Sports Officer in Omaruru, Erongo Region, Berthold Karumendu, for approaching all these sponsors to host such an event that will give Namibians an opportunity to once again compete,” Manuel said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
