29 Mar 2015

Director of sports - development administration, Mr Steve Bothasitse says Botswana National Sports Council (BNYC) is preparing for the fifth Botswana Games billed for Francistown in December.

Addressing Gaborone City Council, Bothasitse said the Botswana Games were held after every two years with the aim of unearthing talent from all the 16 districts of Botswana. He said the games targeted young girls and boys under the age of 19 who were in schools and those out of school.

The director also stated that Botswana Games was one of the third largest youth sports events in the world, which paved way for young Batswana to participate in different events. He added that the games afforded young and emerging athletes an opportunity to compete at international level.

He said all the sport activities would incorporate boys and girls except for boxing which would be boys only and girls only for netball.  Mr Bothasitse also said there would be many activities such as swimming, basketball, karate, tennis and badminton.

Mr Bothasitse pleaded with councilors to encourage young people in their respective wards to apply for birth certificates and passport to enable them participate internationally. Commenting, councillors said the youth should be made aware of HIV/AIDS before the start of the games to create awareness and dangers of unprotected sex.

Councilors said that there are no indoor sports facilities in Botswana while athletes are obliged to participate on indoor sports internationally leaving them with orientation to sports facilities during the competition.

They complained about failure to provide Botswana flag to athletes during international competitions. Councilors noted that BNSC should take sports as a talent and start sponsoring youth who are performing poor academically.

They enquired on what the Sports Council was doing to assist Amantle Montsho and wanted to know where former athlete Tshotlego Morama was. ENDS