THIS RACE IS RUN UNDER THE AUSPICES OF World Athletics and BAA.

International Athletes

International Athletes must provide a clearance letter from their country of origin. They must also comply with World Athletics rules 4.2 and 142.2 and BAA rules.

Closing Date of Entries

Entries open on Thursday 01^st October 2026.

Entries close on Sunday 28^th February 2027, and will close when the entry cap has been reached.

BTC Francistown Marathon Rights Reserved

Any irregularities in your entry form will result in a rejected entry. BTC FRANCISTOWN MARATHON reserves the right to accept or reject any entry, subject to the rules of World Athletics, BAA and BTC FRANCISTOWN MARATHON.

Age Restrictions 

Elite 42.2km – The minimum age requirement is that the athlete must be 20 years or older on 17th April 2027

42.2km – The minimum age requirement is that the athlete must be 20 years or older on 17th April 2027

21.1km – The minimum age requirement is that the athlete must be 18 years or older on 17th April 2027

10km – The minimum age requirement is that the athlete must be 18 years or older on 17th April 2027

No Chip, No Result, No Prize

The event is being timed by (suppliers), and a disposable timing chip, linked to your entry, will be attached to your race number. Please do not remove this timing chip, bend, fold, or damage it in any way. All timing mats MUST be crossed during the race to ensure you receive an official time.

Prizes

The athletes will be awarded for the category they have registered in.

Race numbers must be worn throughout the race on the front of your upper garment/vest. The race number should be visible on the front of the race garment/vest. The race number must be worn on the front of the upper garment/vest. No advertising allowed. Participants must familiarise themselves with and abide by the advertising rules as per the World Athletics, BAA Rulebooks. (World Athletics Rule 143 and BAA Rule 13.1 and advertising regulations). These provisions apply for the duration of the race including warming up, all race ceremonies and official press conference. Under no circumstances may a runner display a political slogan. [World Athletics Rule 2(a)].

Entry fees are not refunded if there is a natural disaster, if you do not attend or pull out of your registered category, or if the race is cancelled.

Payments

It is the runner’s responsibility to enter the correct event, online or at a store. Check the category options and age restrictions before you pay. Incorrect entries will not be amended and no refunds will be processed.

Paid twice? Please don’t pay again. Contact us with your reference. Duplicate payments for the same entry are assessed case by case.

Payments made directly into the BTC Francistown Marathon account without an entry, after the official closing date, or once entry limits are reached will not be refunded.

You’re in

We acknowledge entries by email to the address on your entry form. Checking your confirmation is your responsibility. If any detail is wrong, contact the Race Office on 395 9000 / 1333 or marathonenquiries@btc.bw so we can capture it correctly. Keep your confirmation: you must show it to collect your race number.

Your safety, and your own risk

We take all reasonable steps to keep you safe at the BTC Francistown Marathon and the events around it. Taking part is still at your own risk.

By entering and taking part in any related event, you agree that if you suffer any injury, harm or loss, you will have no claim against the organisers, their agents, sponsors or the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA), even if it was caused by the organisers’ negligence. You are responsible for paying for any harm or loss you suffer.

If the rules change

The organisers may amend these rules and regulations without prior notice or reason. We will announce any significant amendments at https://www.btc.bw/btc-francistown-marathon and on the day of the marathon events.

All entrants must bring proof of identification, which can either be a valid Driver’s License, ID or Passport and confirmation of entry to collect their race pack. If entrants are not available to collect their race packs, they must supply a letter of authorisation to allow someone to collect them on their behalf. Please note that race packs can only be collected during the prescribed times, no late collections will be accommodated

No advertising allowed.

Entrants will not be allowed to change the size of the t-shirt contained in the race pack on collection of the race pack. The Organiser has used its best efforts to ensure that all sizes ordered by entrants will be available. However, if because of circumstances beyond the Organiser’s control, the Organiser runs out of a particular size, all attempts will be made to match t-shirt sizes as close as possible to entrant’s requests.

There will be photographers and videographers capturing entrants during the event. By entering the BTC Francistown Marathon entrants authorise and permit BTC Francistown Marathon and their subsidiaries the right in perpetuity and throughout the world, without any payment, to use the entrant’s photograph, video or film portrayal, image, likeness and voice in any media, including, but not limited to live television cover, catalogues, brochures, displays and any other printed or written material in connection therewith, for the purpose of advertising or promoting Botswana Telecommunications, Francistown Athletics Club, the  BTC Francistown Marathon and related activities.

All instructions from traffic and race officials must be always obeyed.

Proof of age for prize winners is required and must be presented to the referee before prize giving. Winners will only be awarded on the category they have registered for. Prizes will be withheld until confirmed.

• Payment of prize money is subject to finalization and availability of Dope Testing Results.
• Payment of prize money will take up to 3 months from event date.
• Payment of prize money is subject to submission of BTC Smega details.
• Prize money will be paid strictly into the athlete’s BTC Smega account.
• All winners must submit their BTC Smega details to the organisers for payment processing

No earphones, iPods and the like allowed and contravention of World Athletics rule 144.2b, may lead to disqualification.

Athletes may not run with another athlete’s race number unless by prior arrangement with the race organiser.

Entrants should visit the race website (www.btc.bw/btcfrancistownmarathon) for additional information.

Age categories as per the new rulebook by World Athletics

• Peace run – 3km (7 to 14 years)
• Youth Run – 5km (15 to 17 years)
• Junior – 10km, 21.1km (18 – 19 years)
• Elite 21.1km (20 – 49 years)
• Senior Open 5km, 10km, 21.1km, 42.2km (20 – 34 years)
• Elite 42.2km (20 – 49 years)
• Masters 5km, 10km, 21.1km, 42.2km (35 – 49 years)
• Masters Veteran 5km, 10km, 21.1km, 42.2km (50 & above)

A Master is a person 35 years or older on race day.

Entrant means any person who successfully enters the BTC Francistown Marathon.

BTC Francistown Marathon means the 42.2km, 21.1km and 10 km race which will be sponsored by Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) and held in Francistown, Botswana on Saturday 18th April 2026 and any and all related events or functions, regardless of whether they are held before, during or after the race itself.

Organisers mean the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) project team, Francistown Athletics Club and any of its appointed officials, employees or agencies.

By continuing to use this site, you agree to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this privacy policy, please do not continue to use the site. Incomplete entry forms will result in the entrant’s race registration being unsuccessful.

The BTC Francistown Marathon organisers wish to balance their legitimate business interests when collecting and using your personal information and your reasonable expectation of privacy. In this respect, the organisers will take reasonable technical and organisational measures to prevent loss of, damage to, or unauthorised destruction of personal information and unlawful access to or processing of personal information.

You agree that the BTC Francistown Marathon organisers may collect, collate, process and/or store your personal information provided by you during the registration process and possibly other relevant times for purposes of verifying your identity, providing you with access to the website and conducting research. The BTC Francistown Marathon organisers will not disclose your personal information without your consent. Should the entrant opt in during the registration process for future communications, the organisers will communicate future runs and/or promotions to the entrant from time to time.

Whilst the organisers will take all reasonable steps to ensure the entrants safety during participation in the BTC Francistown Marathon and any events relating to it, participation in the BTC Francistown Marathon will be at the entrants own risk. This means that if the entrant agrees to enter the BTC Francistown Marathon and participates in any related events, the entrant will do so on the basis that if they suffer any injury, harm or any loss whilst participating, even if it was caused by the negligence of the organisers, they will have no claim against the organisers, their agents, sponsors and BAA. The entrant will be responsible to pay for any harm or losses they suffer.

The organisers reserve the right to amend these rules and regulations without giving prior notice or reason for the amendment. The organisers will, however, give notice of any significant amendments to the rules and regulations on www.btc.bw/btc-francistown-marathon as well as on the day of the BTC Francistown Marathon Events.