30 Jul 2025

Botswana sport is making good strides, and hosting the 2026 World Athletics Relays is a testament to the country’s great ambitions, growing capabilities and commitment to excellence. 

“As we host this prestigious event, let us plan to extend great hospitality to our guests, and I am confident that we will receive valuable guidance from World Athletics,” said Minister of Sport and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng at the World Relay Gaborone 26 LOC and logo launch on Monday.

He urged the Local Organising Committee to work together to ensure that funds were used efficiently and effectively.

To  Botswana athletes, Kelebeng encouraged them to prepare well and be ready to compete with the world’s best, showcasing their talent and skills on the global stage.

The minister said sport had been identified as one of the ways of achieving prosperity for all, and noted that the sector had to work to establish a self-sustaining industry that produced globally competitive sport persons.

For the sport sector to grow, he said there was need to be creative, cultivate and preserve culture, indigenous knowledge and talent for commercialisation, thereby ultimately contributing to economic growth.

He said Botswana had the ambition of becoming a high-income country, adding that was not only an ambition but a deliberate plan. Kelebeng noted that the country was also certain it could achieve the plan through developing an export-led economy underpinned by diversified, inclusive and sustainable growth, driven by high levels of productivity.

“This is to be achieved, through amongst other things, developing a diverse and varied tourist industry that would capitalise on some of Botswana’s unique features to offer Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), inclusive of sport, adventure and lifestyle tourism,” he said. 

Kelebeng said there were opportunities presented by hosting the World Relays event in the form of brand exposure, corporate sponsorships, digital and social media marketing cultural celebrations and entertainment as well as international partnerships.  

“I urge every sector of the economy to fully exploit these opportunities, and those that I have not mentioned,” he said.

 LOC composition includes; chairperson - Professor Martin Mokgwathi, vice chairperson -  Oabona Theetso, protocol, visa and customs - Kesaobaka Moronkwe, Technical, competition and venues - Dr Comfort Mokgothu, security and accreditation - Mosimanegape Katlholo, marketing, commercial and communication - Lucretia Chima, teams, services accommodation and transport - Thatayaone Sebego, logistics and ceremonies - Tebatso Ompetlhetse, arrival and departure - Sipho Kgakole, volunteers - Gosego Nkwe, media and broadcasting - Martin Nkwe, finance- Grish Ramakrishiana, ICT - Theo Bogatsu, sustainability - Phillimon Mataela, power - Mompati Molebi, safegurding and youth programme - Malebo Nkgakile and medical and anti-doping - Dr Stella Tawana, ENDS