19 Jun 2024

Thirty-two athletes left for Cameroon on Tuesday to compete at the 23rd Africa Senior Championships, and for some, to attempt to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

The athletes are composed of 12 experienced and seasoned females and 20 males.

Giving the team their marching order, Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare urged them to represent the country well and to do their best. “Go out there and represent us well, to the best of your abilities,” he said 

He noted that it was also the last opportunity for those who had not yet qualified for the Olympic Games.

Rakgare said all of them would receive P2 000 appearance fee from government, and that gold medal winners would pocket P50 000, including members of relay teams. 

Silver medallists would get P30 000 while bronze medallists would walk away with P20 000, adding that all those who would feature in the finals would be rewarded with P10 000.

The minister also enticed them with the benefits of going to the Olympic Games which include P30 000 qualification incentive, a monthly stipend of P8 333 until end of August as well as funding support.

He reminded them that those who would win gold medals at the Paris Olympics would be rewarded with a high cost house, a medium cost for silver and low cost for bronze, “all in a place of your choice within Botswana,” he said. Ends