07 Sep 2020

Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chairperson, Marumo Morule says the sporting arena has changed tremendously in recent years.

 Speaking at women in sport pitso organised by Women in Sport Botswana (WASBO) on September 5, he said some of the changes include expectations of good governance, integrity, gender parity, member protection and child safeguarding.

 

Therefore, he said the 2020 women in sport pitso was being hosted under an action-oriented theme of “elevating women and the girl-child participation in sport through inclusive policies.”

  He said as leaders in sport they acknowledge that it was every right of a girl-child and women to participate in sports from grassroots to decision making levels, whether for high performance, recreation or health promotion.

   Furthermore, Morule said as sport leaders they also acknowledge that it’s every girl-child and woman right to participate and be safe in sport.

  He said it was imperative for BNSC and other sport authorities as well as government through the Ministry Youth, Sport and Culture, to provide a secure, impartial and inclusive environment in sport.

The chairperson commended WASBO for making progress in initiating formulation of the sexual harassment policy and to have started consultation processes on the issue.

   “I would urge all of you to take part and provide the necessary required inputs, particularly at coming up with effective action plan to achieve the intended policy objectives and its strategies,” he said.

   He said all stakeholders should be cognizant of the fact that, inclusive policies, talks to policies that give everyone an opportunity to participate in sport in a manner that does not discriminate by gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, geographical location, status or sexual orientation .

   Sport, he said, should provide an opportunity for everyone to showcase their talent and to challenge existing stereotypes. And as such concerned institutions must have inclusive strategies, programmes and initiatives as part of promoting sport development.

  The BNSC board, he said, intended to drive such initiatives through partnership with key stakeholders such as BNOC, MYSC relevant departments, the private sector, civil society organisations and other development partners.

“As we know, change can be difficult and slow. Creating an inclusive institution requires changing the entity’s culture in terms of attitude, behaviour as well as addressing issues of efficiency and effectiveness,” he said. ENDs