27 Oct 2024

Government has fulfilled its promise of giving houses to some members of the Paris 2024 Olympics team.

During the occasion on Thursday, a ground breaking was performed in Kgale location at a plot where a P2.3 million house will be constructed for Letsile Tebogo, a bonus he received for winning Botswana and Africa’s first gold medal in the men’s 200m race.

The six members of the men’s silver medal winning 4X400m relay team, which included Tebogo, were each awarded a two-bedroomed flat worth more than P850 000, also located in Kgale.

Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, applauded the Olympic team for a job well done and said the country was proud of the team’s great exploits.

The minister said government was committed to recognising and celebrating such achievements in a special way.

“Your hardwork, perseverance and commitment has not only made you champions but made us all proud. You have inspired our youth, ignited hope in our nation and showcased what it truly means to strive for greatness. On your journeys, you have demonstrated that dreams can indeed become a reality through passion and determination,” he said.

Rakgare said government had made a conscious decision to align with best practices with respect to incentivising sport.

He said the initiative was part of a greater vision to elevate sport and the creative industry, which were at the forefront of some high income status economies.

The minister said the houses represented government’s appreciation for athletes’ contribution to nation building and sacrifices they made.

Rakgare said their feat was testimony that with the right support and commitment by an individual, everything was possible. “As you take possession of these houses, we urge you to not only view them as rewards for your hard work but also as a foundation for your future endeavours,” he said.

The minister also acknowledged families, coaches and sport administrators who stood by the athletes throughout the journey.

Speaking on behalf of the athletes, the captain on the team, Boitumelo Masilo, said the team appreciated the incentives from government and the nation.

He said this was a sign of government’s commitment to supporting sport, adding houses were valuable rewards.

Masilo encouraged team members to influence young people to join sport and be dedicated to it.  ENDS