16 Feb 2023

 Botswana Golden Grand Prix (BGGP) has officially handed over the host city status to Gaborone mayor, Austin Abraham.

Speaking at the handover on Tuesday, BGGP acting local organising committee chairperson, Barulaganye Mogotsi, said the Gaborone International Meet had been upgraded and reimaged as the BGGP, with plans in place for it to become the highest profile annual track and field event in the southern hemisphere.

He said the Continental Tour Gold series was the uppermost level on the World Athletics Continental Tour calendar, sitting just below the Diamond League in status.

Each meet attracts the best athletes across the globe, with 13 existing meets offered in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, he said.

“All these great memories mean that our continental tour, which takes place annually, is even more eagerly awaited than ever. Superstars of Botswana athletics will take on the world’s best in a high-profile track and field meet on home soil, with World Athletics and the Botswana government having announced their support to the World Continental Tour Gold Level meet in Gaborone in April,” he said.

Accepting gold status, Abraham said Batswana would do everything possible to make sure that Gaborone hosts a world class event in April 29.

He said the event would leave a lifelong heritage for sport development in Botswana.

He said he was confident that Gaborone was ready to welcome and host both athletes and spectators from all corners of the world.

“We are delighted that this event comes at a time when we are doing everything possible to inspire our young athletes to engage in sporting activities and be encouraged to take up athletics as a professional career,” he said.ENDS