31 Aug 2017

Botswana National Olympic Committee president, Negroes Kgosietsile says the implementation of a strategy is vital, as it is the sign-post of any organisation.

Speaking at the BNOC 2017-2020 strategy plan presentation to stakeholders recently, Kgosietsile said the strategy was meant to grow sport and get podium finishes for the country in international competitions.

Furthermore, he said the strategy was meant to contribute to the economy through sport tourism and other means such as prize money.

He noted that  athletes win and come home and invest the money in the country thereby creating employment.

“It is in the interest of all of us to go carefully through the strategy and be cognisant that it is yourself through your federation who will make this strategy a reality. In doing so, it means you have to be well geared to be part and parcel of the strategy,” he said. 

On Long Term Athlete Development (BLTAD), Kgosietsile said the programme was meant for federations to grow sport to podium finishes in an organised manner.

He said it was upon federation’s to align themselves along the long term philosophy, adding that the BNOC secretariat was ready to take them through the long term athlete development strategy.

He added that they would also develop their strategies on the tried and tested strategy.

Kgosietsile said they were  committed to doing their best to not only produce quality athletes, but quality coaches, administrators and sport science and medicine personnel.

“For we are aware that in order to produce world beaters, we need support personnel who are of international standard,” he said.

BNOC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said they embarked on the initial 2008-2016 strategic plan with the objective to increase the country’s competitiveness in international competitions by 2016.

He said this time they opted for a shorter time because a strategic plan normally ranged from two to three years and not as long as their previous one.

He said as per their strategy, BNOC would support Botswana athletes, sport associations and the country to achieve four Olympic medals and eight Commonwealth medals by 2020.

He said the strategy also called on BNOC to strengthen the elite athlete capacity and potential within the country by growing the pool of elite athletes.

He said it would be done through increasing the capacity of sport support services for elite athletes and partnering with key sport stakeholders to improve coordination.

He also said they would improve the monitoring of elite athletes and increase funding for elite athlete development. ENDS