01 Dec 2021

Boxing legend, France Mabiletsa has warmly appreciated his appointment as the 2022 Commonwealth torch manager, by the Botswana Commonwealth Games Association.

The Olympian hailed the association in an interview, saying the appointment was an honour as it showed that his contribution to the development and growth of sports in the country was recognised.

Mabiletsa, an Olympic light heavyweight, was one of the few athletes who made history at the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games by winning a bronze medal and he is now an active sports administrator.

“I am very proud and pleased to have been entrusted with a big responsibility to take care of the Queen’s Baton relay on behalf of the country and this is a great honour as there are other capable sports men and women, who could have been appointed,” he added.

The association, he said, saw it befitting to appoint him considering his track record and vast experience in sports and related issues.

The Queen’s Baton arrived in Maun on November 29 and travelled to places such as Toteng and Sehithwa.

Mabiletsa expressed gratitude to the Ngamiland community for receiving the torch in style and giving it the respect it deserved.

The Queen’s Baton Relay, he said, served as an invitation to participate in the Commonwealth Games, billed for Birmingham, England in August 2022 and also demonstrates the sovereign and unifying spirit among Commonwealth member states.

He described the Commonwealth Games as a major multi sporting event that provided a useful platform for high performance athletes.

He motivated local sport men and women to take sports seriously in order to forge the country’s success at major competitions such as the Commonwealth games.

He also urged them to aim high to bring medals as the government continued to invest a lot in sports, adding that training was key.

He urged sport persons not to miss training and to always hid advices from their coaches.

Mabiletsa expressed a wish that the upcoming athletes could follow in the footsteps of former sports stars and scoop more medals for the country in the envisaged Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, both young and old residents of Toteng and Sehithwa joined in celebrating the arrival of the Queen’s Baton. Ends