26 Sep 2018

Sport continues to unite Batswana of different religious persuasions, political affiliations and economic and social status.

This was said by deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo at Team Botswana send-off ceremony in Gaborone on September 26.

Two swimmers, David Freeman and Tjwada Gundo will represent Botswana at the 3rd Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October.

He said the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games was not just a sports event but also a cultural and educational festival. Young athletes from more than 200 countries would be treated to large doses of both Argentinian and international cultures on the sidelines of the games, in addition to attending mandatory classes on selected subjects.

He said the 3rd edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games would be the first to be held outside Asia and the first Youth Games for either summer or winter to be held outside Eurasia.

“For Botswana, what is particularly interesting is that we will also be making our 3rd appearance at the Games having not missed any edition of the sport showpiece,” he said.

Furthermore, Kaboeamodimo noted that as the team travelled to Buenos Aires, Botswana would be celebrating 52 years of independence. He said Team Botswana would be telling the country’s story to a global audience comprising hundreds and thousands of people who would throng competition venues as well as the estimated one billion who would watch the Games on television.

He said Botswana’s performance at the Olympic Games had taken a similar trajectory as the economic development of the country.

At independence, he noted that the country was one of the least developed countries in the world, and that when athletes started competing at the Olympic Games, they were one of the least competitive countries.

He added that local athletes  did not make it past the preliminary stages, citing the Moscow 1980 Games.

He, however, said through investments made in sport over the years coupled with robust development systems, local sportsmen and women were moving from mere participants to being fierce competitors on the world stage.

Kaboeamodimo noted that Botswana secured her first Olympic medal in 2012 courtesy of Nijel Amos and many more medals at Commonwealth and World Championships.

“With respect to the Youth Olympic Games, who would forget the historic performances of Baboloki Thebe and Karabo Sibanda in 2014 when they each clinched a silver medal for Botswana,” he said.

He told the athletes that when in Buenos Aires they should remember that the Olympic movement was premised on the values of excellence, friendship and respect.

He said they should also be cognisant that they were going to Buenos Aires at a time when doping was a concern in sport.

Botswana National Sports Olympic Committee chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said 2018 had been a busy year for his organisation.

He elaborated that in April they took the team to the Commonwealth Games. In July they took another team to Algiers to compete at the 3rd Africa Youth Games.

Serufho said compared to their last participation in the Youth Olympic Games in 2010 and 2014, this time they were sending a small delegation, adding that he was confident that the team was strong and would represent the country with pride. Ends