03 Dec 2023

The Russia versus Ukraine war, COVID-19, deglobalisation and oil and commodity prices seem to have nothing to do with Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC), but they actually have a lot to say in terms of the committee securing funds for its programmes.

Addressing the BNOC ordinary general meeting in Gaborone on Saturday, president Botsang Tshenyego said because of the above mentioned challenges sport and recreation funding has become less of a priority.  

He called on sport leaders to join forces and find solutions to the challenges.

Tshenyego added that deglobalisation meant increased prices in the short run at least and inflationary pressures.

He said the challenges had led to the tightening of belts in the corporate sector, who were sources of supplementary funding for sport development and elite sport locally and abroad.

However, he said BNOC was looking ahead and forging a path towards Paris 2024 olympics, adding that they continue to amass milestones on the road to Paris with varying levels of success.

He said the late release of funds to prepare athletes for the games was a contributing factor to Team Botswana’s poor performance in recent international competitions.

He said it was clear that BNOC should work in tandem with other sport stakeholders such as Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Gender and Culture (MYSC) and “friends of sport” to ensure the holistic achievement of joint goals.

He added that it included their participation at international competitions such as the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. He said both BNOC and BNSC must drive initiatives aimed at overhauling sport for the future. Ends