13 Apr 2026

Government has committed over P70 million towards hosting the 2026 World Athletics Relays to position Botswana to reap significant economic, sporting and global visibility benefits from the international event. 

Responding to a question in Parliament recently, Minister of Sport and Arts, Mr Jacob Kelebeng said the investment was aimed at ensuring that Botswana successfully hosted the prestigious competition and unlock long-term gains for the local economy and sport sector. 

Minister Kelebeng said Cabinet had initially approved P39 million for the event, with an additional P32 million later allocated for refurbishment of the National Stadium and the University of Botswana tracks. 

The minister said hosting of the World Relays presented a strategic opportunity for Botswana to showcase its capacity on the global stage. 

“This event will attract athletes, officials and supporters from across the world, creating business opportunities for sectors such as hospitality, transport and tourism,” he said. 

He added that the games were expected to be broadcast by more than 150 international television stations, significantly boosting Botswana’s international profile. 

Beyond economic gains, Minister Kelebeng said the event would directly benefit local athletes, who would have the opportunity to compete at world-class level on home soil and gain automatic qualification. 

He noted that hosting the relays would also contribute to skills development, particularly through initiatives such as the World Athletics Media Academy, which was expected to train journalists from Botswana and across the region. 

Mr Kelebeng further said the investment would leave a lasting legacy through improved sport infrastructure, including upgrades to the National Stadium and the University of Botswana tracks. 

He said funds would also cover performance bonds, broadcasting rights, specialised equipment and operational costs of the local organising committee. 

He added that despite the significant investment, an additional P21.5 million was still required to finalise preparations for the event scheduled Gaborone on May 2-3. He indicated that as preparations continued, a full post-event report covering technical delivery and financial accounting would be presented to Parliament in due course.

The minister also called on Members of Parliament to encourage the public to support the event. “Let us fill up the stadium and proudly support Team Botswana,” he said. 

Member of Parliament for Chobe, Mr Simasiku Mapulanga had asked the minister to appraise the National Assembly on the financial support the ministry had rendered to the World Relays organising committee. 

Mr Mapulanga also asked for a breakdown of the envisaged expenditure of the finances as well as the anticipated impact of the ministry’s financial support. ENDS