10 Feb 2020

Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Mr Buti Billy has told Parliament that the ministry had an ambition to host global sporting activities that had loyal international fans and followers. 

Responding to a parliamentary question recently, Mr Billy said shortage of capital investment on necessary infrastructure limited the ministry to bid for competitions. 

However, He said that there were several sporting events that were held on annual basis in the country. 

The ministry supports some of these events financially and in kind. 

These include Toyota 1000 Dessert Race, Khawa Dune Challenge, Makgadikgadi Epic, Mascom Derby and Gaborone International Meet. 

These events attract international competitors and spectators. 

The objective is to have an international calendar so as to attract tourists.

Mr Billy noted that the country had had the opportunity to host international sport competitions from time to time when the country had won bids to do so, latest being Union Sports Commission, Region 5 Games in 2081 and Netball World Youth cup in 2017.

“The ministry intends to continue to bid to host such and bigger sporting events in an effort to bring tourists in the country, subsequently revenue.

 Hosting these events raise our standards and creates jobs for youth.

He said his ministry wished to bid for tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations, African Nations Championships and Africa Champions League finals. 

He appealed to the house to support the ministry to bring these competitions into the country as part of a long term vision..

 He further stated that the ministry had considered hosting a wide variety of international sporting events, including Formula 1 or 2 and the Motor GP. 

However, hosting such competitions has a minimum requirements set by the relevant international bodies and largely Botswana does not meet these minimum standards, such as competition tracks and other technical facilities as well as requisite hotel accommodation. 

He was responding to the Member of Parliament for Kanye North, Mr Thapelo Letsholo, who asked the minister to state efforts and dates on the global sporting activities that had loyal international fans and followers that his ministry was considering to host on annual basis to lure tourists and attract revenue.

He also wanted to know if the ministry had explored motor sport such as formula 1, formula 2 and Moto GP. ENDS