03 Mar 2020

Government is still monitoring the COVID-19 situation ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare has said.

Briefing the media on the Tokyo 2020 preparations in Gaborone today, the minister said Botswana would be guided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as it was also monitoring the situation.

“On Wednesday we met IOC president, Thomas Bach, and in our meeting, he did not indicate to us whether they will postpone the Olympics or not, neither did he indicate whether they would move them to another country,” he said

He said government was not only concerned about Botswana athletes, and that as sport people, they also believed that the Olympics should go on as planned.

Rakgare, however, said should there be reports that the virus was getting out of hand, Botswana would have to make a decision concerning its participation.

On other related issues, Rakgare noted that Botswana’s greatest achievement at the Olympic Games was in 2012 when Nijel Amos won a silver medal in 800 metres. He said the country had talent to qualify more athletes in more sport codes.

The minister said Botswana could win the coveted Olympic gold medal and bring hope, unity and pride to the nation.

“I have a firm belief that now more than ever before we have a great opportunity to break all our records, and in the process firmly position ourselves as a regional sport powerhouse,” he said.

Furthermore, Rakgare said he was cognisant of the fact that to position Botswana as a powerhouse, it required unprecedented levels of planning and execution, backed by adequate resourcing.

 About the fundraising golf day in support of Team Botswana, Rakgare expressed confidence that the event would not only raise money, but would also generate interest in sport within the private sector. ENDs