04 Feb 2025

Should Botswana win the bid to host the 2026 World Relays, athletics enthusiasts would have a chance to witness the local 4x400 men’s relay team rekindle its rivalry with the USA here at the National Stadium in Gaborone.

Botswana, which has met all the criteria required by the world athletics governing body has government’s backing to try its luck while the announcement of the host country is expected in March.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president, Oabona Theetso said the 2026 World Relay bid was still on with a series of meetings held between BAA and World Athletics.

Theetso told BOPA yesterday that World Athletics was guiding BAA on what was needed, adding that they were working on the compliance forms.

He further said a delegation from World Athletics was expected in Botswana this month, to assess the facilities.

“They will be looking at the hotels, stadium, warm up track, and to check whether we meet the requirements of hosting such a big event,” he said.

Furthermore, Theetso said BAA was happy that Botswana government was supporting.

“So, we are hoping that when the delegation arrives it would be impressed by our facilities and ultimately give us the rights to host the 2026 World Relays,” he said.

With the National Stadium currently undergoing some renovations, Theetso expressed hope that the University of Botswana Stadium would also be attended to so that it could be used as a warm up track.

Botswana has met the May 10, 2024 pre-qualification form submission and is left with meeting the bid application form submission deadline of February 25.

Meanwhile, in the last edition of the World Relays in Bahamas 2024, the Botswana quartet of Collen Kebinatshipi, Letsile Tebogo, Leungo Scotch and Bayapo Ndori were crowned the 4x 400 men’s champions with a time of 2:59.11. ENDS