16 Oct 2025

As Botswana will be hosting the World Athletics Relay next year in Gaborone, all the champions will be given a medal called Setshegetsi designed by a local company, Diamond College of Botswana.

Speaking at the Sebaga Sa Metsi launch, World Athletics Relays Gaborone 2026 Local Organising Committee  (LOC) chairperson, Professor Martin Mokgwathi said they had been privileged to be given the rights by World Athletics to host the relays.

He said normally countries were given two years to prepare, but Botswana was given eight months to deliver the world class event. In that regard, Prof Mokgwathi said the LOC were running fast, knocking on every door to solicit support and sponsor for them to host the event.

Furthermore, he said as World Athletics Relays Gaborone 2026 representative, they appreciate and applaud Diamond College of Botswana director, Tsholo Molapisi for coming on board. Prof Mokgwathi said Botswana has made history as the first African country to host World Athletics Relays.

He said the event would give Botswana an opportunity to show case her rich culture, diversity and the transformative impact that diamonds could have on the nation. Furthermore, he said relays would also expose the countries’ tourism to the world and underscore Botswana’s athletics prowess.

“We are the best of the best, when it comes to relays, the Sebaga sa metsi neck lace, which is launched resonates with our theme at the relays, which says Be the Best and Relay the Best,” he said.

He said the necklace embodies the community values, development of sustainable resource and water access to Botswana households and bringing sport to the people.

“A lot of people always watch our team on television, now we are saying, come May, we will be at the stadium," he said. 

Molapisi said that as a Motswana, he was compelled to help in designing and manufacturing the medals at no cost. He however said he would not divulge much as the World Athletics and the LOC would launch the medals. ENDS