To boost Kimberley’s tourism and hospitality sectors, and to set the pace that this once “mining town” is changing into a “university town,” the Kimberley Big Hole Marathon was launched.
With the substantial total prize money of R1,2 million − of which the male and female marathon winner will each pocket R200 000 − it is predicted that elite runners from all over will flock to the Northern Cape’s capital to take part in this Comrades Marathon qualifier race.
At the launch on Monday, 29 September, at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre, legendary marathon and ultramarathon athlete Bruce Fordyce said it was time for Kimberley to have the “flattest, fastest 42,2km” where athletes can aim to achieve a personal best.
This nine-time Comrades Marathon winner and Tete Dijana, who has won the Comrades three times already, were announced as race ambassadors for the event.
Northern Cape marathon stars Arthur Jantjies and Gert Theys are local ambassadors, with several marathon influencers also announced.
Marathon contributing to tourism potential
Dr Zamani Saul, premier of the Northern Cape, said the marathon would be presented under the Diamonds and Dorings brand of the Sol Plaatje Municipality and would focus on the essence of “South Africaness” that is dominant during sporting events.
With the establishment of the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley the general trend of a post-mining town to become a ghost town, has been changed. Saul said 36% of the district’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are from the SPU.
Referring to other university towns and cities, such as Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein and Stellenbosch, Saul said key to survival as a university town is tourism.
In the draft annual report of 2023 of the Sol Plaatje Municipality, tourism was identified as an industry with potential.
Also, the recent Northern Cape Tourism Performance report, issued by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, depicts potential for this sector.
Although national and international tourism has been marked by volatile performance due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, recovery is made with a shift in spending behaviour.
According to Saul, for every eight tourists who visit, one job opportunity is created for a local resident.
To present a “bouquet of activities” in Kimberley, five key events have already been identified that can be presented throughout the year under the auspices of the Diamonds and Dorings brand.
In her address, Barbara Bartlett, mayor of the Sol Plaatje Municipality, said the inauguration of this marathon contributed to the Northern Cape becoming a premier destination for sports tourism.
Stories of perseverance
Fordyce said it took him five years to win his first Comrades. Referring to the newly launched marathon, his advice was to not “drop the baton”.
“The first time will be fantastic,” he said. But to continue presenting such an annual event will be hard work “and you can get your personal best (PB) five years from now”.
Dijana said he started running at the age of 14 while still in school, “and never stopped”. This current Comrades Marathon champion said when he ended in 15th place in his first Comrades, he got the feeling that he could win.
Saul said the words of Fordyce and Dijana were stories of perseverance on the road to success.
Big prize money in several categories
Thato Setlholo, race director and president of Athletics Griqualand West (AGW), gave a race overview of this marathon set to take place on Saturday, 22 November.
Apart from the marathon, athletes can also enter the 21,1km, 10km and 5km events. Big prize money can be won in these categories.
The race commences at the SPU, with several iconic sites in the city included in the route, such as the Diggers Memorial in the Oppenheimer Garden, Honoured Dead Memorial, Big Hole, the Mayibuye Memorial in Galeshewe, and more.
Several safety precautions, as well as measures to track and uncover possible cheating, will be put in place.
Visit diamondsanddorings.com for more information. Entries officially opened on 1 October.
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