29 Feb 2024

Through collaborative framework with the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) and other stakeholders, African Stars International, launched African Stars International Athletics Championships event in Gaborone on Wednesday.

The championships, which will feature athletes from all corners of the country and other international athletes, will be held at the National Stadium on March 25-30.

Officiating at the launch, Deputy Mayor of Gaborone City Council Deputy Mayor, Oduetse Tautona acknowledged Harvinder Dhaliwal, coordinator of the African Stars International Athletics Championships and his team for giving Batswana a platform to develop their talent regardless of their age, physical ability, religion, geographic location and socio-economic status.

He encouraged other stakeholders to partner with government to provide sporting and career opportunities to the youth.

Tautona also called on the private sector to also invest in the future of young people as an effort to grow their livelihoods and eliminate social ills.

For her part, Sharry Dhaliwal said the championships would not only develop talent but would enable BAA to gradually increase the number of youngsters participating in lucrative competitions.

“It is important that talent is discovered and harnessed early, thus the Athletics Championships will cater for all age groups from as early as six years,” Dhaliwal said when explaining the background of the African Stars International Athletics Championships.

She said harnessing talent from a tender age accords athletes a chance to make mistakes and rectify them utilising advanced technology, sports science and medicine.

“As a country with a small population, the most sustainable way is to develop our human capital through rigorous talent identification and development to ensure that we have athletes who can compete at the highest level in international sport,” Dhaliwal said. 

She encouraged the organisation to foster more fruitful collaborations and partnerships, which recognised sport as a viable business sector that could boost the economy through job creation and generation of wealth.

“Sport is no longer just fun and games, it is a globalised multi-billion dollar industry,” she added.

Harvinder said the championships would be hosted in three categories at a fee, featuring Botswana citizens and residents.

Group A will have athletes aged 14 and below with a P200 registration fee while Group is for athletes aged 14 to 20 with P250 registration fee.

Group C is for athletes aged 20 and above with P300 registration fee per event and international athletes as an independent category will pay P500 as registration fee per event.  ENDS