11 Jul 2022

As the clock ticks closer to the commencement of the Commonwealth Games billed for July 28 to August 08 in Birmingham, United Kingdom, the nation is pinning its hopes on a contingent of 35 athletes.

 It will be Botswana’s 12th appearance at the games and to mark such a momentous occasion, the country has sent the highest number of athletes in the history of the games.

Team Botswana will compete in eight sporting codes, namely athletics, boxing, cycling, judo, lawn bowls squash and swimming.

The number of athletes sent to the Birmingham games is 10 more than the ones sent for the last games in Australia in 2018, where the country bagged five medals and finished at position 16.

With the 2018 team having raised the bar, pressure is on the Birmingham team to do even better.

Speaking at the team’s send-off recently, British High Commissioner to Botswana, Sean Price urged team Botswana to strive for excellence, saying the games provided a platform for athletes to measure their strength against their peers in the Commonwealth.

“The Commonwealth Games go beyond sporting activities, but they further strengthen bilateral ties and personal relations within the Commonwealth family,” she said, adding that it was important for participants to embrace the moment and come together as a family and strive together for excellence.

Ms Price said the Birmingham games were poised to be the most inclusive ever, with more para-sports than ever before and more medals sports for women than for men.

“Unlike other major sporting events, the para-sports programme at the Commonwealth Games is fully integrated within the games and any medal won by a para-athlete contributes to the country’s medal tally in exactly the same way as a none para-athlete, which is in line with the Commonwealth value of respect for all people,” she said. She said the special strength about the Commonwealth family lies in the shared values and aspirations that are enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Kitso Kemoen, said the team’s participation at the games will close the gap between Botswana and the rest of the world in the sporting wing.

He said it was pleasing that Botswana women representation at the Commonwealth Games had increased this year, adding that the lawn bowling team, including the coaches, were women.

 This he said was testament to the ministry’s commitment towards women empowerment and promotion of gender equity.

“It is pleasing to note that government remains steadfast in the inclusion of women in sporting activity,” Mr Kemoen said.

Team Botswana departed for the games on Sunday and they will complete their final preparations in Cardiff, before proceeding to Birmingham.  ENDS