22 Jun 2026

Nine countries have confirmed participation at the 2026 Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Associations (CUCSA) Games pencilled for June 28 to July 5.

Botswana will host sports delegations from Angola, Lesotho, eSwatini, South Africa, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Games will feature competition in eight sporting codes: athletics, basketball, chess, football, volleyball, netball, tennis and table tennis. 

According to Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairperson, Keorapetse Setlhare preparations were progressing smoothly and reaching an advanced stage. 

He said key operational areas had entered their final implementation phase ahead of the tournament.

He said major logistical challenges had already been addressed, with arrangements for athletes’ accommodation and catering nearing completion.

According to Setlhare, the main athletes’ village would be located at the University of Botswana (UB), while various sporting venues across Gaborone were fully prepared to host the competitions.

“We have good sport facilities in our country. We will be utilising the exceptional Royal Aria complex, which has the unique infrastructure to host more than four sporting codes simultaneously,” he said.

He said athletics events would be held at the University of Botswana Stadium, while plans were being finalised to stage the opening ceremony at the UB Indoor Sports Arena.

To ensure smooth movement between venues, Setlhare said comprehensive transport arrangements had been put in place.

He said their strategy was to provide dedicated transport services for athletes, match officials and heads of delegation throughout the tournament.

Setlhare further said organisers were prioritising safety and contingency planning as the arrival of large sports delegations draws closer.

“We are completely ready. Every aspect of safety, emergency medical response and event security is being tightly coordinated with relevant national authorities and professional service providers,” he said.

He also said 100 volunteers from the Sport Volunteers Movement had already undergone training and would assist during the games. ENDS