Modisaemang appointed ascends to FIA role

The former Botswana Motorsport (BMS) president Simon Modisaemang was recently appointed to a new position at the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). 

Modisaemang who is the Managing Director of Emergency Assist and Emergency Assist motorsport will be holding the position of Vice President (Africa) Automobile, Mobility and Tourism. 

In an interview this week, Modisaemang said Botswana stands to benefit from both mobility and motorsports through grants that are available at the FIA. The FIA is an international   governing body for   international motorsport events including Formula One and the World Rally Championship.  Moreover, Modisaemang said his appointment would provide access to FIA grants that can be used to improve grassroots motorsport activities such as go Karting and road rally.  

We can part with government ministries   and the private sector to organise go-kart activities at primary school. These activities   can be organised country wide with the help of the FIA. We can then hold national championships where different regions will come and compete. In addition, the former BMS president said Botswana could also benefit in terms of sports medicine adding that, one of his employees at Emergency Assist benefitted from sports medicine course recently organised by the FIA in the United Arab Emirates. 

Motorsport and mobility go hand in hand and the two are interrelated. “When people travel from South Africa to attend the 1000 km Toyota Desert Race that is mobility. We need to educate   people so that they do not emulate what they see on motorsport events when driving on public roads.” 

In other matters Modisaeman said his club Emergency Assist motorsport continues to focus on four wheeler motorsport activities. “We had plans organise a rally event last year but this   did not materialise as we could not recognise proper routes for the event.” However, we plan to organise two or more rally events this year.