24 Aug 2014

The Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) on Friday, August 22 awarded the class of 2013 their diploma certificates in management of Olympic sport organisation. 

The advanced sport management course was held from June 22 to November 24 2013 in Gaborone and Palapye and it attracted 20 participants, but only 17 graduated with 10 of them being women.

The programme covered management issues in areas of finance and organising major events. 

The ceremony was also combined with the official opening of the incoming class of 2014. 

Giving a keynote address during the ceremony, African Union Sports Council region V general manager, Stanley Mutoya congratulated all the graduates for their hard work, dedication and sacrifice that had culminated in the successful completion of their studies.

“This is your day and we celebrate with you this important milestone in your life as well as for BNOC,” said Mutoya. 

He said BNOC had not only imparted academic training but also life skills that would enable the granduates to play an important role in shaping the sporting society. 

In addition, Mutoya said the course was critical in the contribution towards the achievement of the national excellence strategy to which the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture was a signatory.

He added that the course was a welcome development for the sporting community. 

The skills, he said, were necessary to ensure that sport was managed properly and those involved in its management were adequately equipped to lead.

“It is tailor-made for sports leadership from grassroots to national levels, it is meant to deliver what sports require today,” he said.

He said sports need to be taken serious hence they did not want to bring out half-baked products. 

He advised course participants to be involved in local, regional or national sporting movement, and as such may be members of the National Olympic Committee, national federation or sporting code. 

Mutoya also said the International Olympic Committee recommended the promotion of women in sport, and that women be fully integrated into the sport administrators’ courses to mentor and propel women into sport management and leadership positions.

He said there was an increase in the number of women enrolling in the advanced sports management course starting with seven women in the first intake, followed by 10 and currently standing at 15 in the third intake. 

“This is a huge milestone for the integration of women into sports management in the country,” he said. 

He also commended the media for promoting the course and taking Botswana forward. 

Among the graduates was sports reporter, Anastacia Sibanda who took part in the advanced sports management course. ENDS