15 Dec 2021

While some people see cheerleading as a form of entertainment, Botswana Cheerleading Federation president Neo Selwe says it should be regarded as a competitive sport just like any other code.

Selwe told BOPA in an interview that cheerleading was a new sport in Botswana, whose existence many people were not aware of.

“Cheerleading is a competitive sport, with all its judging processes that include ability to demonstrate appropriate level skills with correct placement, body alignment, control, extension, balance strength and completion of movement,” she said.

She said the Botswana Cheerleading Federation was affiliated to International Cheer Union (ICU), adding that the federation affiliated to Botswana National Olympic Committee and Botswana National Sports Commission in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

She said currently they have 14 clubs across the country and have managed to host their first ever National Cheerleading Championships in 2020.

Cheerleading or cheer sport is a sport involving the performance of organised cheering, dance, gymnastics and acrobatics and Selwe said was divided into five categories  of  hip-hop, freestyle Pom, jazz, high kick, and cheerleading.

She said it was done with lots of stunts given that it had splits, tumbling, backflip, which were then judged looking at the athlete execution technique, skill and movement.

Selwe further said in Cheersport the kind of skills applied determined the teams rank, adding that it starts with level one, which is a lower division, to level six elite’s professionals.

She further shared that they were in the process of selecting national team players that would represent the country at the 2022 World Championships to be held in Orlando Florida.  ENDS