On Tuesday, raucous national stadium roared, filled beyond its capacity of 23 000 as over 30 000 Batswana turned up to grant their heroes and heroines a befitting home coming ceremony from the just ended Olympics in France.
‘Merci, de Paris avec amour’ , from Paris with love it simply means. The incredible moments of excitement began at Sir Seretse Khama International airport as large crowds came to bear witness of Team Botswana’s touchdown through Ethiopian Airways.
In the midst of the welcome celebrations for the returning Team Botswana, the first woman to be assigned as the Chef de mission of a Botswana Olympics team, Oreeditse Marakakgora made a rallying cry to the country’s leadership to consider prioritizing land allocations to the Olympians who have not been gifted with houses. This is especially if they have made land applications, as that would enable them to make significant investments.
Notwithstanding the fact that, government of Botswana through its incentives and reward policy, will give medal winners with houses, it must be noted that athletes have also made significant financial earnings through different avenues after competing at the world’s multi sporting event.
“I’d like to make a plea to our leadership, some of these athletes did not win a medal and therefore will not be getting houses—if we could make arrangements that those who have applied for plots be given a priority and be allocated land so that the little they get, they will be able to build themselves homes,” Marakakgoro’s statements were met with a thunderous ululations as Batswana yet again showed unity in support of their team.
The Chef de mission further announced that the athletes were taken through life skills programs while in France which included life after sport sessions.
She further discouraged social media trolling against athletes.
“Let’s be mindful of how we talk or address our athletes on social media, we need not to discourage them, let us show them love because the spirit of Olympism is not only about medals. We have athletes who did not get podium finishes but they are winners because they were able to make it to the Olympics. For the first time in our history, we have been able to send at least over eight (8) athletes to finals at the games, these are historic moments that we must cherish and celebrate,” Marakakgoro added.
President Masisi in closing remarks of the ceremony urged the nation to ready themselves for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in USA and announced the government’s commitment to invest more on sport development to ensure that, in 2028 Botswana will do better than what transpired out in France.
“I want to express my deepest appreciation to this team. The government will pour resources, all efforts and energy towards our next Olympians, preparations for the next Olympics begins today. I want everyone in the country to think of how they can contribute and support these athletes— what I want to promise is that they all will get a reward,” President Masisi shared.
Team Botswana brought a single gold medal thanks to Letsile Tebogo in 200m and won a second silver medal through the 4X400m meter relay team—Nigel Amos won Botswana’s first Olympic medal at the London Olympics in 2012.
So far Botswana have four Olympic medals as the 4X400 men’s relay team also won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) in their 2028 development strategy are looking to accumulate at least five gold medals in Los Angeles, so far only one gold medal has been secured.
‘Merci, de Paris avec amour’ , from Paris with love it simply means. The incredible moments of excitement began at Sir Seretse Khama International airport as large crowds came to bear witness of Team Botswana’s touchdown through Ethiopian Airways.
In the midst of the welcome celebrations for the returning Team Botswana, the first woman to be assigned as the Chef de mission of a Botswana Olympics team, Oreeditse Marakakgora made a rallying cry to the country’s leadership to consider prioritizing land allocations to the Olympians who have not been gifted with houses. This is especially if they have made land applications, as that would enable them to make significant investments.
Notwithstanding the fact that, government of Botswana through its incentives and reward policy, will give medal winners with houses, it must be noted that athletes have also made significant financial earnings through different avenues after competing at the world’s multi sporting event.
“I’d like to make a plea to our leadership, some of these athletes did not win a medal and therefore will not be getting houses—if we could make arrangements that those who have applied for plots be given a priority and be allocated land so that the little they get, they will be able to build themselves homes,” Marakakgoro’s statements were met with a thunderous ululations as Batswana yet again showed unity in support of their team.
The Chef de mission further announced that the athletes were taken through life skills programs while in France which included life after sport sessions.
She further discouraged social media trolling against athletes.
“Let’s be mindful of how we talk or address our athletes on social media, we need not to discourage them, let us show them love because the spirit of Olympism is not only about medals. We have athletes who did not get podium finishes but they are winners because they were able to make it to the Olympics. For the first time in our history, we have been able to send at least over eight (8) athletes to finals at the games, these are historic moments that we must cherish and celebrate,” Marakakgoro added.
President Masisi in closing remarks of the ceremony urged the nation to ready themselves for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in USA and announced the government’s commitment to invest more on sport development to ensure that, in 2028 Botswana will do better than what transpired out in France.
“I want to express my deepest appreciation to this team. The government will pour resources, all efforts and energy towards our next Olympians, preparations for the next Olympics begins today. I want everyone in the country to think of how they can contribute and support these athletes— what I want to promise is that they all will get a reward,” President Masisi shared.
Team Botswana brought a single gold medal thanks to Letsile Tebogo in 200m and won a second silver medal through the 4X400m meter relay team—Nigel Amos won Botswana’s first Olympic medal at the London Olympics in 2012.
So far Botswana have four Olympic medals as the 4X400 men’s relay team also won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) in their 2028 development strategy are looking to accumulate at least five gold medals in Los Angeles, so far only one gold medal has been secured.
