15 Aug 2021

Participating in the Olympics is no easy feat, in fact, it is an achievement worthy of being celebrated and President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi did just that in appreciation of Botswana Olympic Team’s efforts at the just ended games.

“No longer ordinary folks, the team has earned global recognition and has now assumed ambassadorial roles,” President Masisi said during a meeting to celebrate the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Team Friday.

He praised the team’s sterling job and good representation at the world stage and encouraged that their behaviour should now reflect their new status and always uphold and embrace that.

The nation, he said, was entirely behind them and their success translated into them becoming a product of the global economy hence they should package themselves attractively for the world to take notice.

“There is no better way of advertising than the Olympics. Whatever you do, whatever you say and think is either selling or growing you or it is stigmatising demeaning, denigrating you, your image, your country or your people,” President Masisi said adding that they should take pride in what they did and never underestimate themselves.

He appreciated all the assistance afforded to the team by coaches, administrators, sponsors, parents, God and athletes themselves while challenging them to immediately start preparing for the 2024 Olympic Games slated for Paris.

Dr Masisi also applauded the 4x400m men’s relay team for winning the country’s second ever Olympic medal, a bronze this time.

All the participants, he said were achievers and leaders.

For his part, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare applauded government for supporting sport. 

He said he was grateful that government recognised sport as part of the national development and included it in the national budget as that helped in its development.

He said sport as a commercial sector, could be used to diversify the economy just like in developed countries.

Botswana had sent 14 athletes to the Olympics Games, the highest number thus far. 

The country also made history as the first African country to achieve a podium finish in the 4x400m men’s relay team at the Olympics in 17 years since Nigeria in 2004. ends