11 Feb 2015

Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) vision 2028 strategic plan differs from the previous one, which put emphasis on re-organisation of administration efforts towards a common goal in delivery of sport.

BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng, said the previous strategy put emphasis on advocacy for sport to be part of the priorities in the national agenda.

He said one of  the major milestones of the previous sports vision was the establishment of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture and the government sport desk in the Department of Sport and Recreation.

Conversely, he said, through their vision 2028 strategy, they would ensure that all active part of the population participate in sport, ensure superiority of performance in sport, sport becomes a significant contributor to the livelihood of Batswana, socially, health wise and economically.

The strategy also aims at fulfilling the move towards an improved funding model and financial sustainability, promoting more entrepreneurial approach to sport.

It will also achieve commonly agreed central position regarding distribution of funding and resources and facilitate fair and equitable resource distribution to affiliates.

The strategy will also help improve professionalism in sports and empower affiliates, be athlete centered and focus on development of athletes from grass roots to elite levels. It will assist affiliates to market and brand themselves, as well as support affiliates by providing an environment that is conducive for performance.

Usually, implementation is cited as lacking to realise plans, in this regard, the BNSC chairperson said they would embark on robust stakeholder education and engagement, and monitoring of plans.

The council’s 2028 strategic objective indicates that they are aiming to improve sports contribution to society with 0.5 per cent by 2028, to improve athlete performance. Currently, Botswana is ranked 69 in international ranking, and BNSC wants to move to 25 by 2028. Regarding medals per year internationally, the BNSC baseline is 360 medals, and their dream is to at least attain 1440 medal by 2028, he added.

The strategy envisioned having at least 50 athletes making it to the higher stage of Olympics because in the past years only four athletes qualified for Olympics.

The first face of the BNSC vision 2028 will be reviewed in 2016 to determine if the targets are realistic to meet.

Reikeletseng however said for their plan to be achieved they would require financial and skilled human resource.

He said they would depend on the government, private sector, international community, and internally, adding as for the human resource they would develop it from within.

He further said affiliates have a lot of work to do in ensuring that the vision 2028 is attainable, therefore it would be imperative for them to reprioritise and ensure that human capital development becomes a priority.

Quizzed as to what the recently passed law on sport would have on this vision, Reikeletseng said the law has a positive effect since they would be higher levels of commitment from government, sport volunteers, and business community.

In addition, Reikeletseng said the law would also boost implementation through provision of other important aspects of sport previously not prioritised in the current Act, such as professional sport, equity as it relates to gender as well as physical ability or disability. BOPA