04 Sep 2013

Poor performance will remain the bane of special athletics until the country has appropriate sports facilities for People Living with Disabilities(PLWDs), says the public relations officer for Special Olympics Botswana, Botshelo Mogotsi.

Mogotsi said in an interview on the sidelines of a prize giving ceremony of the St Bora Region competitions at Bobonong Primary School on Sunday, that grounds used to host games for athletes with special needs were not favourable to their circumstances, leading to poor performance. 

Mogotsi expressed disappointment that while his committee publicised the competitions, only pupils turned up to support their colleagues.

He explained that Special Olympics was a movement to encourage people with disabilities to take part in sports. He  appealed to parents who have children with special needs to register them at schools for them to receive assistance. He said this year’s Special Olympics would be held in Francistown in November. He said  the world games would be hosted by the US city of Los Angeles in 2015.

All participants were awarded medals and certificates of participation “because in Special Olympics, everyone is a winner”, he said. The event was sponsored by Teekays and Bobonong Agricultural Research Centre.. The competitions took place Sunday. ENDS