27 Jul 2017

Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Kefentse Mzwinila has commended team Botswana for a sterlling performance at the just ended Commonwealth Youth Games in Bahamas.

Speaking at a welcome ceremony for the team, Mzwinila said what the team did had shown the world what Botswana has to offer in terms of talent that it was breeding for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and beyond.

“The three bronze medals you have brought home didn’t come easily, congratulations to the medalists,” he said.

Mzwinila said the games were an opportunity for the athletes to gain exposure to the global arena.

He added that the athletes could now go back to their local training grounds with a clear understanding of where their standard was compared to their age mates and opponents for years to come.

“They will surely meet the same faces that they competed against in Bahamas throughout their sporting career,” he said.

He further urged the BNOC and the BNSC to nurture the youthful talent, as it was the hope of the nation to send them off in a few years as part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and 2022 Commonwealth Games teams.

Commonwealth Games Association of Botswana president, Negroes Kgosietsile said the games promoted national pride of the Commonwealth territories, and connected young athletes during competitions and team parades.

“Athletes were introduced to the world stage to compete for their personal development and to forge new friendships across the Commonwealth family,” he said.

The team brought home three bronze medals from swimming, boxing and athletics.

The athletics team also managed to reach the finals in the 400m relay and the 4x400 m mixed relay.

James Freeman managed a personal best and qualified for the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October next year. ENDS