02 Aug 2017

Past experience in various sport codes should teach local organising committees that there is need to start preparations early in order for better results, says Assistant Minister of Basic Education, also patron of Sports View Runners Club (SVRC), Moiseraele Goya.

Launching the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the second Gaborone International Meet on Tuesday, Goya said work started as early as two months ago with mobilisation of personnel and other soft resources to prepare ground for the appointment of a full committee to take over the preparations.

He said the skeletal team which was assembled after the first meet had been working behind the scenes to propose a framework on which the preparations were based.

“Today I am launching the LOC, eight months to the next Meet, a vast improvement from the last where we only started looking around a few weeks ahead of the event,” he said.

Goya said SVRC would soon engage on with the BAA with the intention of appointing a long term LOC to avoid current and traditional stop-start approach which compromises quality delivery of events.

He said the 2018 Gaborone meet would be held on the 28th April 2018 at the National Stadium in Gaborone.

He further said the meet was open to local athletes at all levels and would also include categories for the special Olympics athletes.

He urged athletics clubs and structures to take advantage of the event and expose upcoming talent from the just ended schools competitions.

“The Gaborone International Meet will no doubt assist the BAA to live to their tradition of harnessing school talent and transforming it into gold,” he said.

He said negotiations have already started with TV broadcasters to procure rights for the event which, he said would give a wide exposure and value for money to those who would partner with the event.

Furthermore, he said to demonstrate the club’s commitment on improving the competition it had developed a structured organisational framework, populated by highly competent, reputable and experienced individuals as the LOC to prepare for the Gaborone International Meet in the year 2018 and beyond.

He said the structure is headed by veteran local sports administrators with vast experience in hosting international competitions.

The structure is made up of: Barulaganyi Mogotsi-as the chairperson, Kitso Kemoeng-general manager, Calistus Kolantsho - head of publicity, Wedu Motswetla- head of operations, Keenese Katisenge-head of marketing, Mpiwa Bosenogile, head of finance, Dr George Mokone-head of medical and sports science and Bobby Gaseitsewe as the head of technical. ENDS