Sedimo admits racism in swimming
Onalenna Kelebeile | Friday May 27, 2016 09:41
He said, however, that from next year non-citizens will not be allowed to participate under the Botswana flag. Addressing a full Selebi-Phikwe Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Sedimo admitted racism in the sport. “It is new for swimming to get to an organised level and non-citizens have been accepted to participate under Botswana flag,” he said. He added that non-citizens do help develop the sport, but said they should not outnumber locals. However, he said those who have naturalised their citizenship do participate under the Botswana flag.
Sedimo was responding to a call by councillor Mmapula Matlhole for BNSC to seriously address issues of racial discrimination in sports especially swimming. She cited reports that the national swimming team to Mauritius was divided into two categories being; Team Botswana and Botswana Invited.
Sedimo further noted that school-based sports programmes are very important and said the issue of teachers and their employer over overtime payments have seriously affected BNSC and expressed the need for the two parties to reach a common ground. He added that students are performing extremely well and there are upcoming stars that BNSC want to develop to reach the Olympics. He added that the constituency league is critical for sports development and some of its graduates are making the country proud. “Please support these tournaments because they will ultimately contribute to sports development in the country,” he added. Sedimo also said athletes are seriously sensitised on issues of anti-doping and said it is the responsibility of an athlete on what he eats or drinks. “An athlete is never told when the test will be conducted but if they (those who test) do not find the athlete, he is considered to have failed the test under the athletes whereabouts programme,” he explained.
He said only five athletes qualified for the London Olympic in 2012, but this year more than 10 have already qualified. Sedimo further said the country surpassed the Commonwealth Games target last year. He also noted that Botswana will host the Netball World Youth Cup competition in 2017 and it will be for the first time such a competition comes to Africa.
Sedimo also stressed the importance of the country to continue bidding for high profile events and said the mining town must also produce athletes of repute and also consider indoor sport facilities as well as upgrade the stadium so that the town also becomes a sporting hub.
Town Mayor, Amogelang Mojuta pleaded with the BNSC to help Selebi-Phikwe bid for Botswana Games and said the town does qualify given the available facilities. “We only lack rubber for track events and I request you to help us with that. We have sufficient accommodation for athletes. Our facilities are becoming dilapidated because they are under utilised,” he said. Some councillors decried the fact that many opportunities pass by because the council stadium is not in good condition to host major sporting activities hence events are moved to Francistown. “We even failed to tap into the World Cup spill overs from South Africa,” said one councillor.