04 Dec 2018

Region 5 Youth Games Gaborone 2018 Local Organising Committee (LOC) has handed over nine competition and 12 training venues that will be used to host the competitions.

The facilities were handed on December 3, after the media were given the opportunity to appreciate them.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, LOC chairperson, Labbeaus Peloewetse said they had adopted a compact hosting concept where five of the nine competition venues were within a walking distance from the games village.

He said it would ensure minimal travelling for the athletes and make it easier for spectators to watch more than one event in a single day.

“This concept is also environmentally friendly as it ensures that the games will have minimal carbon footprint. I want to thank AUSC Region 5 Regional Organising Committee for approving this concept,” he said.

He noted that out of the nine competition venues that had been handed over, three had been upgraded to international standards.

He added that at the UB Aquatic Centre they had installed new touchpads to International Swimming Federation (FINA) requirements.

“You will be pleased to know that Region 5 Youth Games swimming competition is a qualifier for World Championships in South Korea, Gwagnju,” he said.

Furthermore, Peloewetse said at the National Stadium they had renovated and refurbished the athletics track, the long jump runway and pit and the stadium, which had been marked to IAAF standards.

He said they had applied for IAAF certification and were expecting to receive it early in the new year, adding that they had also resurfaced Notwane courts to International Tennis Federation standards.

“Specifically, the LOC is handing over the National Stadium, UB Stadium, UB Aquatic Centre, UB Indoor Sports Centre, Notwane Tennis Centre, Jamal main field, Boipuso Hall, Ditshupo Hall and Molapo Piazza as competition venues,” he said.

AUSC Region 5 chief executive officer, Stanley Mutoya said they accepted the nine competition and 12 training venues.

He said as Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 they promised that the facilities would be put to good use in line with what their council of ministers had set up for them to use the games as a launch pad of future athletes. ENDS