08 May 2018

International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) president, Sebastian Coe has confirmed that he will visit Botswana this year.

In an interview, the athletics boss said he met with the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) president Thari Mooketsi at the just ended Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, to arrange for the visit.

Coe said he has already visited some federations, adding that just recently he was with the Hong Kong Federation and the European Federation.

“These are very important visit for me as they give me an opportunity to understand the challenges that federations face, the way they are coordinating their world class programmes, and clearly in Botswana’s case their recent performance at the Commonwealth Games was extremely exciting,” he said.

Further, Coe said Botswana’s performance in the international stage particularly in the short distance could not go unnoticed.

He said the country was doing well, adding that he was happy that at the Commonwealth they also managed to field some athletes in the field event.

“I am seeing a graduation into field events as well as endurance. So Botswana athletics has come of age in the last few years, and it is very exciting to see the athletes doing very well,” he said.

Sport administrator, Patrick Moesi said he welcomes Coe’s visit to Botswana as it would strengthen BAA relationship with the IAAF.

He said during his visit, the IAAF boss should acknowledge the country has demonstrated that there is an abundance of talent in Botswana especially with regard to 400 metres adding that, that alone should call for a high performance centre to serve the Southern African region.

He said there was need to increase financial support to BAA from both the IAAF and government so as to develop athletics in Botswana.

He said the support will go a long way in ensuring that the growth of athletics and athletes’ development continue to grow from strength to strength.

Moesi said the issue of the development of a secretariat of the BAA should be expedited and the IAAF president should lobby the government in support of BAA.

He said there was a need for capacity building for all stakeholders in order to ensure that all structures were well equipped to deal and manage the growth of athletics in the country.

“The BAA should also use this as an opportunity to lobby for support to assist or help find partners to develop their plot to a full secretariat and High Performance Centre. I also expect Coe to meet with all sports federations that deal with the sport of athletics like BISA, and BOTESSA,” he said. ENDS