18 May 2023

Several countries have shown interest in competing at Lefika Relays Meet billed for the National Stadium on June 10.

South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, Kenya and Ethiopia have confirmed participation for the meet, which would be used to qualify for major events such as the World Championships in Budapest, August.

Nigeria had also shown interest to take part, but requested the organisers to meet them halfway, to enable them to buy tickets for some of their officials, local organising committee (LOC) chairperson Ookeditse Malesu said in an interview on Tuesday.

The LOC is still to address the Nigeria request.

However, Malesu decried lack of sponsorship for the event, adding that Botswana recently hosted a successful Botswana Golden Grand Prix, therefore it would be ideal for the LOC not to drop the bar.

The chairperson said the LOC and other stakeholders intended to host a successful event so that the relays would get ratings from World Athletics.

“Our ultimate goal is that the relays should get a gold status from the World Athletics, and we are cognisant of the fact that it does not come cheap, as it entails a lot of work,” he said.

In other issues, Malesu said Botswana relay teams were ready including the 4x400m men’s team that won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

He said in the senior category, they would field both men and women.

The junior category under 20 both men and women would compete in the 4x100m, 4x400m and mixed relay.

Malesu said there would also have medley relay, 4x100m for people living with disability, 4x400m for people with disability, 100m hurdles for women, 110m hurdles for men  as well as 400m hurdles for men and women. ENDS