Botswana’s Olympic team is expected to arrive home tomorrow (Monday). The team is expected to touch down at the Sir Seretse Khama Airport at 1300 hrs.
Speaking in an interview, the Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC), Tuelo Serufho, said the history making team is expected to be welcomed at the airport by senior government officials as well as parents.
“We are expecting the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture and other sporting officials to be at the airport to welcome the athletes. We have also extended the invitation to Members of Parliament as well as the parents or guardians of the athletes,” Serufho said.
The BNOC supremo said to avoid the situation where athletes’ parents would not be able to make it into the airport to welcome their children, they have arranged for them to be granted entry into the airport. Upon the team’s arrival, Serufho said there will be a short media briefing, which is expected to be addressed by Botswana Team’s Chef de Mission, Major Botsang Tshenyego.
He said after the media briefing, the team will be taken to the University of Botswana Stadium where one of the athletes will be expected to address the public. It is expected that once at the stadium, the athletes will get to do photo and autograph opportunities with members of the public.
Later on the evening, there will be a welcome dinner for the team with invited guests. According to Serufho, the expectation is that there will be speeches, one by the team’s athletes representative. The team will then take a break before embarking on a nationwide tour that will cover some of the country’s key cities and villages.
Serufho said some of the cities and villages will include areas from where the team’s athletes originate.
“This tour will start on the 22nd of this month and will conclude on the 26th of this same month,” Serufho said.
He said that the team will start their tour in Mookane and Mahalapye on the 22nd. On the 23rd, they are expected to tour Francistown, Marobela and Tutume before proceeding to Maun on the 24th.
From Maun, the team is expected to visit Gantsi and Jwaneng on the 25th and 26th, respectively.
Meanwhile, the BNOC has encouraged members of the public to welcome the team at the airport.
According to a statement from the BNOC, members of the public who wish to welcome the team at the airport should arrive there by 1330hrs. The public will be expected to be guided to a designated area from where they will be able to meet the team and also join the motor procession leading up to the stadium.
Following the country’s historic showing at the just ended London Summer Olympics, it is expected that the team will get a heroes’ welcome. For the first time in the country’s participation in the Olympics, the team is bringing home a medal, courtesy of 800 meters teenage runner, Nijel Amos, who came second in his event. Another notable achievement is fourth position which came through women’s 400 meters runner Amantle Montsho.
