12 Aug 2021

Team Botswana that took part in the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games has been handsomely rewarded.

Government has indicated that it would give each of the six members of the men 4X400 relay team a two bedroomed house.

Debswana on one hand gave out monetary gifts worth P1.5 million and BNSC P504 000.

Giving a keynote address during Team Botswana’s welcome ceremony in Gaborone on Wednesday, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare,

The minister advised athletes to invest wisely, noting that sport was a rewarding, but short career.

“You must optimise on the income that you earn during your active careers. We want you to retire and lead comfortable lives,” he added.

Rakgare also advised athletes to seek financial advice from BNSC, BNOC and different financial institutions.

He thanked the Olympic team and officials for making the country proud.

He also lauded Batswana for rallying behind the team, adding ‘we are all united and proud as a nation’.

He further thanked corporate partners who invested in the team and sport in general.

The minister said government spent in excess of P40 million, over the past three years, in preparing the team to Tokyo.

Rakgare said as the journey to Paris 2024 had started and stakeholders must pull together in placing Botswana among the best.

Debswana representative, Bakani Motlhabani, thanked the team for representing the country well.

“You brought glory, not only to yourselves, but to the country as a whole,” he said.

He indicated that Debswana therefore found it necessary to award the team for an exceptional performance.

Motlhabani said the gesture was in line with Debswana’s support for sport development.

BNOC president, Botsang Tshenyego, thanked Team Botswana for flying the national flag high, adding that the excitement they brought came at the right time, when the nation’s spirits had been dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tshenyego also thanked all stakeholders for supporting the team.

BNSC chairperson, Marumo Morule, applauded the team for an outstanding performance, adding that the nation would remain proud for years to come.

Morule said the athletes represented the country well and in the process profiled Botswana, further encouraging them to keep focus, commitment and determination, noting that they had what it takes to be true world leaders.

He highlighted that reaching three finals and winning a bronze medal at the world’s biggest sport spectacle was a great achievement.

The success of the team, he said, would not have been possible without the selfless work of the coaches, team managers as well as medical support staff.

He thanked national sport associations for identifying and nurturing talent, adding that the team’s success was as a result of their efforts. ENDS