02 Aug 2017

Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng says it is inherently challenging to implement the 2028 strategy without running a risk of losing track.

The BNSC 2028 strategy is a 16-year plan having taken effect in January 2013.

Addressing the media recently, Reikeletseng said they had four high level targets in which they mentored their performance, in line with each of the four areas of focus set objectives, measures and initiatives to drive the strategy.

“When we started we were struggling to justify the extent to which we contribute to the economy through sport.

Reikeletseng said athletes were now highly competitive in the international arena from national associations such as athletics, karate, boxing, swimming, volleyball and continued to represent the country well in international assignments.

He further explained that under the strategic review period, the country had recorded good performance and got position 14 at the African Games in 2015.

That, he said was an improvement from position 15 attained in 2011.

Botswana also attained position two at the AUSC Region 5 games held in Angola in 2016, which Reikeletseng also indicated was an improvement from position three attained in Zimbabwe in 2014.

He stated that the level of sport participation had increased in the country owing to one of the measures the commission had put in place which included staging competitions both at primary and secondary schools as well as the constituency tournaments.

“We have achieved major milestones in hosting the Under 21 Netball World Youth Cup last month, although this initiative was achieved in 2017 to 2020 phase of the strategy but it is still attributable to the efforts from the 2013-2016 planning period,” he said.

Meanwhile, Reikeletseng told the media that the commission would host yet another high profile event; the World Baseball Softball Congress in October and would also host the International Working Group on Women and Sport Congress next year. ENDS