14 Mar 2024

The blue, black and white flag is amongst the 53 hoisted at the African Games village at the University of Ghana to signify Botswana’s participation at the 54th games held in Accra, Ghana.

Botswana made its maiden appearance at the African Games in 1991 in Cairo, Egypt and the country has continued to leave a mark and increase its medal haul at the games.

Team Botswana chef de mission, Shadrack Kapeko said the hoisting of participating countries flags signified respect and unity amongst participating countries.

He said raising the Botswana flag by the organisers was to acknowledge the country’s presence at the games.

He said their participation in the games reminded them of the country’s legends who previously participated at the games.

He added that he was proud that the number of codes, athletes and number of medals won were gradually increasing.

Botswana won its first bronze medal at the Cairo Games in 1991 in boxing. In 1995, the country also won one bronze medal in Harare, Zimbabwe and they improved their performance in 1999 in Johannesburg, South Africa, where they won three silver and two bronze medals.

 In 2003 in Abuja, Nigeria, the country won four gold, one silver and six medals before improving their performance even further in Algiers, Algeria in 2007 where they registered six gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

In Maputo, Mozambique, in 2011 local athletes amassed 16 medals comprising of two gold, five silver and nine bronze medals.

 Fifteen medals were won in Brazzaville, Congo, in 2015 consisting of three gold, three silver and nine bronze medals.

The last games were held in Rabat, Morocco in 2019 and Botswana won five gold medals, three silver and six bronze.

In total, the country has won 76 medals from the African Games comprising of 20 gold, 17 silver and 39 bronze medals. ENDS