28 Aug 2025

A local company, BWX Links, is currently on-site at the National Stadium to refurbish the track in preparation for the 2026 World Athletics Relays billed for May next year.

The stadium, which recently had a new track installed at a cost of over P16 million for the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix, was deemed unsuitable for the upcoming competition by a World Athletics delegation.

That had since prompted the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) to work with BWX Links to ensure that a world-class, certified track was ready in time. In an interview, BNSC acting chief executive officer, Makuke Makuke, confirmed that the stadium had been temporarily closed to the public, including the Independence Day celebrations, to allow the work to be completed on schedule.

He said while some materials were already on-site, they were awaiting others which were being imported from Turkey.

He indicated that the refurbishment involved removing the existing blue top layer and markings to address a previously skipped step in the installation process.

“This was a necessary compromise at the time due to time constraints for the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix, but it has now become a crucial issue to rectify. 

This additional work will come with an extra cost of around P4 million,” Makuke said. He added that the new renovations aimed to deliver a track that met international standards, with a target completion date of mid-October.

“This will ensure that the track can be fully certified by World Athletics well ahead of the 2026 event. 

The BNSC and BWX Links are working diligently to meet this deadline, ensuring that Botswana can successfully host the prestigious global competition,” Makuke said. ENDS