The Botswana Golden Grand Prix is back on the world athletics calendar and it is scheduled for April 12, 2025. Last year, the event could not happen because the founder Glody Dube and government were at loggerheads. However, Dube met with the new Minister of Sport and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng, who has approved the event. Additionally, World Athletics has reinstated the gold status to the event. Preparations for the race are now in full swing, to bring excitement to athletes and fans alike.
Glody Dube has confirmed that they are happy to continue where they last left. Harold Mosomane, the chairperson of the Ramotswa Athletics Club and a member of the commission of BAA affiliates, has stated in an interview that they worked hard to return Glody Dube's event to its founder. He mentioned that, as affiliates of the BAA, they fought diligently for the event's return to its rightful owner. Mosomane also noted that the BAA hosted a Special General Assembly where the affiliates expressed their concerns about feeling unprotected, as their events can easily be taken from them.
“The Botswana Golden Grand Prix (BGGP) started as Glody's Race back in 2011. It grew and became the Sports View Meet, and later the Gaborone International Meet. This growth was fueled by the ideas and resources of Dube, the Sports View Runners Club, and the Golden Door Sport Agency, who worked tirelessly to ensure the event's success. Ultimately, the event was recognized by the CAA, who advised Dube to apply for bronze status with World Athletics (WA). World Athletics accepted the proposal, and the event became international with a status from WA. After a single hosting of a very successful Bronze Status event, World Athletics encouraged Dube to meet all the requirements for his race to be granted gold status,” he said.
Mosomane went on to say that, “Dube then took the necessary steps and applied for gold status, which marked the birth of the Botswana Golden Grand Prix. The event faced disruptions due to COVID-19 but was finally held in 2023, attracting global attention to Botswana during its duration. One of the requirements for gold status was government support for the event, and everything went smoothly in that regard. However, an unfortunate turn of events occurred immediately after the successful hosting of the BGGP when individuals discovered a loophole in Botswana and began showing interest in the race. Things started to go sour when World Athletics was informed that some funds had not been accounted for from the first edition of the BGGP.”
He stated that a misunderstanding led to the event being taken away by an European gentleman, prompting the BAA to fight to prevent the event from being lost to a foreigner. Things escalated when the rights to host the event were given to the BAA. He said the situation made court action inevitable, as Sports View and their partners viewed the BAA as a parent organization that should not agree to host the event while they had been working alongside Dube in this battle.
Mosomane noted that the BAA declared that all they wanted was to save the event from foreign interests, and the affiliates demanded that if that was the case, the event should be returned to its rightful owner, Dube, and the Golden Door Sport Agency. He mentioned that a commission was formed, consisting himself from the Ramotswa Athletics Club and Ledimo from Maun Track and Field, to work with the BAA Board in facilitating the transition.
“The process was progressing well, with a few hiccups here and there, as some people still harbored prospects of benefiting from the event without having contributed to its success. The event is scheduled for April 12, 2025, and all stakeholders are committed to ensuring its success.” He said.
Glody Dube has confirmed that they are happy to continue where they last left. Harold Mosomane, the chairperson of the Ramotswa Athletics Club and a member of the commission of BAA affiliates, has stated in an interview that they worked hard to return Glody Dube's event to its founder. He mentioned that, as affiliates of the BAA, they fought diligently for the event's return to its rightful owner. Mosomane also noted that the BAA hosted a Special General Assembly where the affiliates expressed their concerns about feeling unprotected, as their events can easily be taken from them.
“The Botswana Golden Grand Prix (BGGP) started as Glody's Race back in 2011. It grew and became the Sports View Meet, and later the Gaborone International Meet. This growth was fueled by the ideas and resources of Dube, the Sports View Runners Club, and the Golden Door Sport Agency, who worked tirelessly to ensure the event's success. Ultimately, the event was recognized by the CAA, who advised Dube to apply for bronze status with World Athletics (WA). World Athletics accepted the proposal, and the event became international with a status from WA. After a single hosting of a very successful Bronze Status event, World Athletics encouraged Dube to meet all the requirements for his race to be granted gold status,” he said.
Mosomane went on to say that, “Dube then took the necessary steps and applied for gold status, which marked the birth of the Botswana Golden Grand Prix. The event faced disruptions due to COVID-19 but was finally held in 2023, attracting global attention to Botswana during its duration. One of the requirements for gold status was government support for the event, and everything went smoothly in that regard. However, an unfortunate turn of events occurred immediately after the successful hosting of the BGGP when individuals discovered a loophole in Botswana and began showing interest in the race. Things started to go sour when World Athletics was informed that some funds had not been accounted for from the first edition of the BGGP.”
He stated that a misunderstanding led to the event being taken away by an European gentleman, prompting the BAA to fight to prevent the event from being lost to a foreigner. Things escalated when the rights to host the event were given to the BAA. He said the situation made court action inevitable, as Sports View and their partners viewed the BAA as a parent organization that should not agree to host the event while they had been working alongside Dube in this battle.
Mosomane noted that the BAA declared that all they wanted was to save the event from foreign interests, and the affiliates demanded that if that was the case, the event should be returned to its rightful owner, Dube, and the Golden Door Sport Agency. He mentioned that a commission was formed, consisting himself from the Ramotswa Athletics Club and Ledimo from Maun Track and Field, to work with the BAA Board in facilitating the transition.
“The process was progressing well, with a few hiccups here and there, as some people still harbored prospects of benefiting from the event without having contributed to its success. The event is scheduled for April 12, 2025, and all stakeholders are committed to ensuring its success.” He said.
