Sporting Associations have been tasked to consult each other on whether Botswana should continue to attend International competitions or to concentrate on sport development in order to enhance their competitive edge in the future.
Minister Shaw Kgathi said this at the recent Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) AGM, stressing the fact that Botswana should not only compete but excel at major sporting codes.
When addressing the AGM, Kgathi asserted that the nation’s expectations on our sporting codes are rising and that they should recognize the importance of better preparations for athletes ahead of competitions.
On the topic of Sport Development, Kgathi said that Centres of Sport Excellence are an integral part of development strategies. He asserted that the concept of Centre’s of Sport Excellence entails the designation of certain institution and schools for sport and the provision of the necessary support service in the form of sport equipment and human resources.
BNSC members had held the meeting in Francistown in a bid to reinstate the association’s Executive Committee for an additional one year in office. The BNSC is said to be currently in working partnership with both the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) and the Department of Sports and Recreation (DSR).
“There was a consistent meeting of minds and engagements between the secretariats of BNSC, BNOC and DSR around issues of sport development,” said Daniel Tau, chairman of BNSC.
Tau revealed that the Council office was on an active dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to progress discussions on the opportunities available for sport internationally.
Focus is currently on Europe and the United States, particularly the State of North Carolina, where we were exploring sport development partnerships and scholarships tenable at the University of North Carolina.”
