04 Aug 2024

The Princess Charlene Foundation is intending to build a swimming pool in the Chobe area.

 The Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) president, Botsang Tshenyego, who met the foundation owners on the sidelines of the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games, said  it was an opportunity they could use to bring additional events to the area with the geographical benefits of accessibility from at least four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Tshenyego said they were not only excited but also challenged by the opportunity as the sport fraternity as the sport and creative arts had been identified as drivers of the National Transformation Strategy.

“Embracing this proposal is a no-brainer and I’m disappointed that land has been cited as a challenge in the past. We will be engaging the relevant stakeholders starting with the Botswana Swimming Sport Association and also the World Aquatics,” he said.

The Princess Charlene Foundation’s mission, according to its website, is to build a world where children from all backgrounds can thrive in a safe environment and learn to live together.

The foundation also strives to prevent drowning and to develop the education of children through the values of sport.

The website says Princess Charlene has witnessed the devastating reality of drowning and she is aware of the positive changes that sport can bring to one’s life.

She started the foundation with the will to provide better opportunities for children around the world.

It says since its formation in December 14, 2012, Princess Charlene of Monaco supports and funds educational projects around the world.

Three programmes set up by the foundation is to learn how to swim, water and safety and sport and education.

Sunday Standard sport editor, Botlhale Koothopile said it was a welcome development given that people from that area were passionate about swimming.

He said the swimming pool would also come handy in grassroots development as the children from that area and its surroundings would be taught proper techniques.

 Koothopile said swimming had been doing well in development and they are one of the few codes that were passionate about development although they were not available in public schools. ENDS