29 Jun 2016

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture (MYSC), Thapelo Olopeng, has thanked the Japanese Embassy for funding Botswana Judo Federation (BJF) dojo to the tune of P969 000 (US$ 87 500). 

Minister Olopeng said construction of the new judo dojo was a welcome development.

Speaking during a ground breaking ceremony in Gaborone on Tuesday, Olopeng said the development of judo was a great contribution to his ministry’s developmental goals. 

“BJF is one of the national sports associations that have shown great potential for the growth and contribution to the building of youth in sport,” he said. 

Olopeng explained that dojo would address a challenge BJF had been experiencing for some time now. 

He cited that in the past, BJF depended on the use of different community and private halls in order to host numerous activities for the federation. 

However, he said with a purpose built facility, they would ensure that they schedule events in the calendar with confidence and reduce logistical and financial costs they incurred previously. 

The minister also acknowledged and applauded the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) support to BJF through placing of a volunteer in 2013 through the late Sensei Keisuke Itsubo. 

He said Sensei Itsubo, who the dojo would be dedicated to, had made immense contributions and he had left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of young people. 

Furthermore, Olopeng said to enhance the support JICA had since April 2016, it placed another volunteer, Sensei Takashi Hagino, whom the minister said brought with him a wealth of experience in Judo, adding that he was grateful for such an initiative. 

“I am humbled by the way the BJF is supported, not only by the Japanese Embassy but also by the International Judo Federation which had contributed significantly to the development,” he said. 

He also applauded them for providing the federation with an international coach as well as sponsoring two of Judo athletes to train in Budapest, Hungary in June to July 2016. 

For his part, the Ambassador of Japan to Botswana Masahiro Onishi said the grant offered to BJF was part of Japan’s cultural assistant scheme and sports for tomorrow program. 

“With Tokyo hosting the summer Olympic and Paralympic games in 2020, Japan aims to promote the value of sport and increase the awareness of sports movement to people around the word through the sport for tomorrow program,” he added. 

Ambassador Onishi also said when he informed the late Sensei Itsubo’s parents about the ground breaking ceremony, they were pleased as their son had high expectations of great success for Judo in Botswana. 

He further said the JICA senior volunteer who had been dispatched to Botswana to coach Batswana Jodukas would use both his skills and the availability of the dojo to improve their skills.  

The president of BJF, Estony Pridgeon praised the efforts put forward by the Embassy of Japan which seek to develop the Judo sport in Botswana. 

She said one of BJF objectives was to increase the number of Judo players around Botswana and help change people’s lives through education, energy and the spirit of Judo. 

Pridgeon said she was grateful for the support and cooperation of the Japanese Ambassador for financially helping them achieve the objective. Ends