10 Aug 2025

World Athletics governing body has downgraded Botswana Golden Grand Prix from gold to silver. This follows failure by Gaborone meet to satisfy the governing body’s time lines in the last edition held in Gaborone in April 2025.

World Athletics had earlier terminated their contract with the Golden Door Sports Agency director, Glody Dube to host the 2024 meet. However, Dube managed to get his rights back with only two months remaining to prepare for the major event.

At the centre was National Stadium track refurbishment, which was incomplete at the time of the meet, and the track, was not certified by the World Athletics. 

Dube said in an interview that, they were confident that they would get back their gold status, adding that what they needed to do was to work hard and do things according to World Athletics requirements.

“The deadlines they are talking about include the track, as you might be aware, even on the eve of the event, the contractor was on site working, but at the end of the day no one should be blamed for that,” Dube said.

He however, said losing gold status did not mean that many things had changed. 

“Yes points will change, given that gold earn more points that silver on the athlete’s performance, and again the athletes are paid more in gold than competing in the silver meet,” he said.

Furthermore, he said they were expecting more top athletes to come and compete in the 2026 edition.

Dube said with Botswana hosting World Relays, seven days after their meet, it would be advantageous for them, given that some athletes would come early to acclimatise, and check their readiness using the meet.

“So we stand a very high chance of even attracting top athletes, due to the World Relays, we know that a lot of countries will be in Botswana,” he said. 

Dube said preparations for the next edition had already started, adding that they met with all their sponsors, who promised that they were still with them. ENDS