Africell Sierra Leone has officially launched the fifth edition of the Freetown Africell Marathon, introducing a full 42.2-kilometre race for the first time as the company seeks to promote healthy lifestyles, develop local sporting talent and position the competition as a major event on Sierra Leone’s sporting calendar.
Scheduled for December 6, 2026, the marathon will feature four categories: 5 kilometres, 10 kilometres, the half marathon of 21.1 kilometres and the full marathon of 42.2 kilometres.
The introduction of the full marathon marks a significant milestone in the event’s development, offering experienced runners a new challenge while creating more opportunities for athletes to participate.
The launch brought together Africell officials and representatives of sporting institutions, including Prince Vandy Swallay, President of the National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association of Sierra Leone (NOC/CGA-SLE); Ibrahim Moses Kargbo, President of the Sierra Leone Athletics Association; and Sahr Morris Jr., representing the Sierra Leone Sports Writers Association (SWASAL). Representatives of Street Child Sierra Leone also attended.
Speaking at the launch, Africell Chief Executive Officer Shadi Gerjawi said the marathon was established to bring people together through sport, encourage healthier lifestyles and provide local athletes with a platform to showcase their abilities.
“When we launched the Freetown Africell Marathon, the ambition was to create an event that would bring people together through sport, encourage healthier lifestyles and give our athletes another platform to demonstrate their abilities,” Gerjawi said.
He said the competition had made significant progress since its first edition, attributing its growth to the commitment of Africell’s team, partners and participants.
According to Gerjawi, each edition has provided valuable lessons in route planning, coordination, safety, logistics and the overall experience for runners, allowing organisers to identify areas for improvement and raise their ambitions for subsequent editions.
He also highlighted growing interest in long-distance running across Sierra Leone, pointing to the Freetown Africell Marathon, Street Child’s longstanding work in Makeni and the emergence of marathon activities in Kenema as signs of the sport’s expanding reach.
Gerjawi expressed optimism that the growing interest in long-distance running would encourage more communities to embrace athletics and create opportunities for local runners to develop their abilities.
He said Africell’s investment in sport went beyond sponsorship, describing it as an investment in people, particularly young people, and the opportunities sporting activities could create.
He noted that the company also supports football, volleyball and basketball through investments in volleyball facilities and initiatives, support for football activities, assistance to the Sierra Leone Basketball Federation and collaboration with NBA Africa.
Gerjawi said the marathon was expected to promote physical activity, strengthen sporting communities and contribute to tourism by attracting visitors, showcasing Freetown and creating opportunities for local businesses.
He added that Africell remained committed to building on the progress of previous editions and improving the experience for runners, spectators and partners.
He also announced that the company would offer bigger and more attractive prizes across all four categories to reward excellence and encourage greater competition. However, he urged participants to choose distances they could adequately prepare for, stressing that proper training would be essential, particularly for those entering the longer races.
Representing the Sierra Leone Sports Writers Association, Sahr Morris Jr. described the marathon’s recognition by World Athletics as an important development that could raise its international profile and attract more elite athletes to Sierra Leone.
Morris expressed optimism that the competition could eventually attract international runners, noting that its growing visibility and recognition presented an opportunity to position Freetown as a destination for major road-running events.
“The Freetown Africell Marathon is recognised by the world athletics body. The fact that this is recognised means it is just a matter of time before we start seeing world athletes joining the Freetown Africell Marathon,” Morris said.
He called on journalists, media institutions and the leadership of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists to support the competition through increased publicity and coverage.
Morris said the Sierra Leone Sports Writers Association was committed to supporting the marathon as it gained recognition on the international athletics calendar.
Prince Vandy Swallay, President of the NOC/CGA-SLE, also joined Africell and other stakeholders at the launch, underscoring the importance of collaboration between sporting institutions and private-sector organisations in advancing athletics and grassroots sports development.
According to the NOC/CGA-SLE, the marathon aligns with the Olympic Movement’s commitment to Sport for All and reflects Commonwealth sporting ideals of friendship, inclusion and mutual respect.
The organisation said the competition offered opportunities to nurture local athletic talent, promote sports tourism and showcase Sierra Leone to the international community. It also expressed its readiness to collaborate with Africell and other stakeholders to harness sport as a catalyst for national development and strengthen the Olympic and Commonwealth sporting movements in Sierra Leone.
The 2026 Freetown Africell Marathon is expected to serve as a platform for promoting health, discovering athletic talent, supporting tourism and raising Sierra Leone’s profile in international athletics.
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