10 Oct 2018

Acting Minister Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Dikgang Makgalemele has described a Kgori as an agile and colourful bird which resembles the youthful spirit, togetherness, team spirit and excellence.

Speaking at the Region 5 Youth Games launch, he said Kgori was a high flying bird which resembled the fact that the Games would be showcasing all athletes who had excelled in their respective sporting codes.

Makgalemele said he was happy that the local organising committee chose the bird as its Mascot because it was associated with Bogosi, and that it was also declared a protected species as it was almost extinct.

“As such this is an opportunity for us as a region to come together and teach young ones about the most important things in life and how they should be treasured,” he said.

About the theme song, Makgalemele said the LOC engaged three youthful artists, Motlha, Ivon and Ditiro to produce the song which he described as catchy with a youthful beat, and that it would be played throughout the region so as to get the excitement amongst the youth.

About the cauldron which symbolised leiso, he said it would be lit from the day of the games until the end.

“We are saying as a region that we should gather around this Leiso and share ideas and experiences on how we should improve on talent identification. We need to have a model that talks to us investing rights in the sport such that we get value for the money as well as the athletes benefiting,” he said.

On the torch which is known as lepatata, he said it was used to communicate information, and that as it was used to notify villagers about the arrival of warriors after successfully defeating their opponents.

Lepatata, he said, was also used to call members of the community to a kgotla gathering where information would be disseminated.

Furthermore, Makgalemele said the games were an opportunity for the region to celebrate upcoming athletes.

Local Organising Committee chairperson, Labbeaus Peloewetswe said Botswana was ready to host memorable Games given that the venues had been confirmed and temporary structures nearing completion.

He said the various field of play equipment had been ordered, and that some of the equipment had already been delivered

Furthermore, he said volunteers had been recruited and that they would be trained, adding that preparations for the Games were going in accordance with their plan.

He said the Games would start from December 7 to 16, and that approximately 1 700 teenage athletes would be in action in Gaborone. Ends