13 Dec 2017

In an effort to support sport development, North West District Council had channeled P78 000 to assist Team North West during its preparations for the Botswana Games.

The Games, which are held every two years, are currently on going at Gaborone and ends on December 15.

Botswana Games is the brainchild of Botswana National Sport Commission and it intends to catch athletes at a young age and nurture their talent.

North West District Council chairperson, Duncan Enga told councillors that the assistance was a significant increase compared to the P30 000, which was allocated to the team in the previous games.

He said the team, which comprised of 200 athletes will compete in 12 sporting codes and has total of 45 coaches.

In the previous Games, Team North West got position four with 11 gold medals in athletics. 

Further some athletes from the region managed to break records.

Meanwhile, the assistance followed Botswana National Sport Commission director, Mission Mereyotlhe’s recent visit to the district, where he shared the mandate of the commission and pleaded with political leadership to support sport development including Botswana Games.

During his visit, he appealed to councillors to continue playing an active role in promoting and developing sport in their district, noting that their continued support would enhance the general image of sport in the district and throughout the country.

Councillors also learnt that the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development had recently launched the Maun outdoor gym in a bid to develop sport in the district.

The gym is located at Maun Sports Complex and is openthe public. 

It was constructed at the tune of P250 000 as a community development project with a view to provide free exercise equipment to enable those who do not have the money for a gym membership to exercise.

Councillor Enga urged fellow councillors to encourage their electorates to fully utilise the equipment and look after them. ENDS