27 Nov 2017

Botswana Sports Volunteers Movement (SVM) national executive secretary general, Tsholofelo Gaotswake says they will not condone volunteers who conduct themselves in an unacceptable manner.

Speaking at this year’s volunteer training workshop on Saturday, Gaotswake said volunteers must adhere to the code of conduct they had signed.

She said the volunteers were the game makers of sporting events; therefore adding that it was crucial for the movement to organise a training workshop so that they could understand their roles and deliver them accordingly.

She explained that the movement, which is a sub-structure of the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC), had a disciplinary team and those who disregard the code of conduct would be called for hearing before any action could be taken against them.

Gaotswake said the movement does not entertain misconduct such as late coming, alcohol abuse, abusive language, sexual harassment, violence and protests.

She said volunteers were core people in terms of delivering the games emphasising that their conduct and behaviour should resemble that of people who had been bestowed with trust.

She said the mandate of the movement was to coordinate all the volunteer activities and ensure that their needs and welfare were in order.

She said volunteers must create and maintain an environment free of fear and harassment and they could only do this if they accept responsibilities for their actions.

In addition, she said volunteers must respect and champion the rights of every individual to participate in sporting events.

Above all, he said volunteers must develop a relationship with athletes and others based on openness, honesty and mutual respect.

She commended the volunteers to have conducted themselves in a respected manner in the past international games that the country hosted successfully.

He said while the volunteers were not paid, it benefited the country as money was saved and later channeled towards developments.

The movement is made up of various expertise such as nurses, doctors, teachers, Information Technology (IT) personnel, psychologists as well as people with different backgrounds.

The main purpose of the workshop was to put volunteers under one roof and train them on the code of conduct and expectations. Discussions centred on around issues of good conduct, respect, and safety to sport. BOPA