28 Nov 2018

About P1.8 million has been spent on renovating the track at the National Stadium to match the international standard.

As a result, athletes from 10 SADC countries, who will participate in the Region 5 Youth Games Gaborone 2018, will have no excuse in executing their God-given talent during the Games.

The Games manager, Steve Bothasitse said in an interview that he was happy with progress at the National Stadium.

He said they took the decision to renovate the track after realising that it was not user friendly given that it had been used over time without rehabilitating it.

Bothasitse further said they saw it fit to leave a legacy after the Games adding that athletics was one of the performing codes in the country and Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) could then put the track to good use for its internatioal meets.

“We felt we should refurbish it so that it can attract more athlete.And as you might be aware, good tracks help athletes to stay free from injuries as they are able to run freely,” he said.

Initially, he said they wanted to use UB Stadium for the Games and refurbish it, but decided against it since BAA would not be able to use it anytime they wished to as the stadium was used for educational purposes.

Also, he said they saw it fit to design the track to meet the international standard since IAAF had since changed staggers for the relay exchange zone.

“IAAF Rule 170 of  relay races stipulates that the 10-metre acceleration zone and 20-metre takeover zone for each changeover in 4x100m 4x200m relays where applicable has now been merged into one 30-metre takeover zone,” he said.

BAA vice president, Kenneth Kikwe said the association was happy that the Games’ organisers   had refurbished the track.

He said the refurbishment came at the right time given that IAAF had come up with new regulations.

According to Kikwe, stadiums with natural turf, which were suitable for international meets, were very limited in the country. ENDS