Speaking during a media briefing this week, the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) president, Moses Bantsi, said it was unfortunate that the 2024 edition was not held due to challenges faced. He, however, said they expect the event to return next year. “You will be updated when everything is in place but we are hopeful it will be back under a different name. The event will still be part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold,” he said. Meanwhile, Bantsi said they submitted a bid during the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) council meeting in Douala, Cameroon, to host the 2026 Africa Senior Championships. Ghana won the bid by beating Botswana by 12 votes to three votes. “We wanted to show other African countries that we know how to host. Unfortunately, the bid went to Ghana, but we did not lose, we have been awarded the rights to host the 2028 edition.
The good thing is that we went to Cameroon with a mandate from the government that if we were to lose the 2026 edition, we should go for the 2028 edition,” he said. Bantsi said the BAA has submitted a pre-bid to host the 2026 World Athletics Relays. He said they met the deadline, which was July 10, 2024. “Hopefully, with the backing of the government and other stakeholders, we will be able to host the relays. Before the relays, we need to host many international events. That is why we wanted to host the 2026 CAA Africa Senior Championships edition so that we prepare for the relays,” he said. Bantsi said they expect the World Athletics Relays to bid in September and the host of the relays will be announced in November. He said the BAA is also interested in hosting the Southern Region championships. In other updates, Bantsi said the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have already passed in terms of preparations. He said the focus should now be on the Los Angeles 2028 and 2032 Olympics. “The government has done a lot in terms of team preparations.
It is time for the private sector and the public in general to come on board and assist the team. The government has set a target to win five gold medals at the Los Angeles Olympics. For that to be possible, preparations should start today,” Bantsi said. He said there are other competitions in between but the ultimate goal is the Olympics in four years. Bantsi said as they shift focus to the future, the BAA is calling for support for the Under-20 team that will compete at the 2024 World Athletics Under-20 Championships to be held in Lima, Peru, from August 27-31. “The team comprises of future Olympians for the next two editions. Therefore, it is important that they be given full support to prepare as early as now,” he said.
The Under-20 team Girls: Sethunya Majama (18), Same Mhutsiwa (17), Keebonye Otela (18), Warona Thonisani (19) and Wedu Matiwe (17) Boys: Ernest Kumevu (19), Thabang Monngathipa (19), Keorapetse Oreokame (19), Seleka Lefatshe (18), Justice Oratile (18), and Fredrick Mathathi (19)
