01 Aug 2018

Team Botswana has been extolled for winning 14 medals at the just- ended third African Youth Games, which were held in Algiers, Algeria.

Botswana finished on position 16 out of 41 African countries, winning one gold, three sliver and 10 bronze medals.

Speaking at the welcome ceremony on Tuesday, Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Moiseraele Goya said being a youthful team, there was no set medal target because most of the athletes were first timers, with a few having tasted the continental platform before.

He said with limited time to prepare for the Games, due to school commitments, the athletes did their best and they did not return empty handed.

“I would like to congratulate all the medalists for their achievements.

We are indeed very proud of your exploits.

The international world of sport is continuing to take note of our exploits in sport as a country,” he said.

Goya further said the athletes were given opportunity to prove themselves, by showcasing their talent, adding that he was happy that they showed hunger to excel.

To the rest of athletes who did not bring home medals, he said, they should not despair as they were also winners given that they did their best as some of them brought home Personal Best performances.

He however said the next chapter was the Youth Olympic Games in October in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where some of the athletes like, Bernard Olesitse, Oarabile Tshosa, Lame Nare, and Kealeboga Balemogi had qualified in Algeria, while swimmer James Freeman qualified for the Games during the Bahamas Commonwealth Games.

On other issues, he said government aimed to develop a fully-fledged National Anti-Doping Agency, adding that it was imperative for Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) to continue educating athletes about the dangers of doping.

Doping, he said was a scourge to sport and in Botswana adding that they would not tolerate it.

As such, he challenged young athletes to refrain from all performance enhancing substances.

BNOC president, Botsang Tshenyego said Freeman, who won gold, silver and bronze in swimming, was the first  Motswana to achieve the feat.

The achievement, he said was a sign that Botswana sport continued to make its mark on the international scene. ENDS