11 Dec 2017

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Thapelo Olopeng says government spends around P150 million a year on sport. 

Officially opening the 5^th Botswana Games at the National Stadium on December 10, Olopeng said it was in recognition of the value of sport to build character, physical fitness and national pride as well as identity.  

Government, he said, was convinced that the games contributed to developing the nation through sport. 

“We, therefore, encourage athletes and officials who are here today to use the games as a spring board for a more rewarding sporting career,” he said.

Furthermore, Olopeng encouraged all the districts and teams to utilise the sport facilities built in their areas. He noted that  government had built stadiums and community sport fields around the country and that they remained underutilised. 

He said the games were part of the sport development programme in addition to the school sport programme and the age based national teams. 

The games, he said, also provided an opportunity for the youth from all parts of the country to interact and exchange ideas and experiences.

The minister further told his audience that the games also served to identify athletes for the Botswana team for the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Games which would be held in Gaborone next year. 

The games, he said, were also a multi-sport national competition that was targeted at boys and girls under the age of 19, both in and out of school.

He noted that when they turned 19 years next year they would be at the right age to compete at the AUSC regional games. He noted that the games were held on a rotational basis amongst AUSC member countries.

“I therefore hope that all the young athletes will grab this opportunity with both hands and impress the coaches. It is important that we develop the right attitude to sport and competitiveness,” he said.

Gaborone City mayor, Kagiso Thutlwe said their intention as the city leadership was to embrace sport as an important aspect of developing the city and its social fabric.

He said the people of Gaborone had shown support as evidenced by the recent Netball Youth World Cup and the World Softball Congress this year.

The chairperson of Botswana National Sports Commission, Solly Reikeletseng thanked Olopeng for continuing to be the chief advocate for sport.

He said all the efforts by the ministry had borne the fruit of development that was visible through events  such as the Botswana Games.

“We welcome support from the ministry for the betterment of the lives of youth of this country, whom sport acts as a career alternative,” he said.

In this year’s edition, 16 districts with 14 different sporting codes and 3 445 athletes and officials will participate in the games that will end on December 15. ENDS