BAA, Glody kiss and make up
Sport
The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has smoked the peace pipe with their VP Administration, the maverick Glody Dube following the alleged sabotage by the athletics body to deny him the right to host this year’s Sports View International Meet.
Talking to this publication this week, Dube revealed that he has now reversed his initial thought of resigning from the BAA executive after they ironed out their differences. “It is true sir we met and resolved the issue and now everything is fine with my colleagues, and like you are saying it is automatic the race is on next year,” he told this publication on Monday afternoon.
The event couldn’t be hosted this year because the BAA was reportedly “jealous” and played tactical games to ensure that this year’s event fall through. It is believed that the Authority, by allowing the green eyed monster to get the better of them questioned whether “a club” could host a race of its magnitude. The question emanated from the prospects of the event’s magnetic power to pull high profile sponsors while the association was struggling to secure a deal for their events especially the national championships.
“One of our members asked whether it was possible for a club to host a race of this kind,” BAA Communications Manager Roland Masalila who was initially cagey on the matter when the story came out said. He continued to add, “So we consulted with our superiors at IAAF and they told us there is nothing wrong with the club hosting a big event and even highlighted to us that all the big races around the globe are hosted by the clubs. And as a result the event will be on next year because now we are aware.”
It was surprising to see such an experienced committee led by Moses Bantsi claiming to be oblivious to how athletics events are carried out. “Not that we didn’t know but one of the colleagues who I am not at liberty to reveal his/her name asked this and we couldn’t take it lightly hence we had to ask our principals,” Masalila said.
Failure to stage the race which according to Dube attracted top athletes with big sponsors was a biggest minus for the BAA. “Who knows maybe we could have sent more athletes to the Olympics or just given other green horns a springboard to success, but it will be fine,” Masalila noted. The event will be staged next year amid uncertainty as Dube said some sponsors may not be part of the race because they were disappointed by amateurism displayed this year when they were willing to sponsor the event.
Sport
Orange injects P350 000 into Phikwe marathon
Mobile network Orange Botswana is committed to supporting the development of local sport. Through its sponsorship, the company will be able to promote and market the sport. According to Maano Masisi, the company believes that sport can unite people from different backgrounds.
He stated that through the sponsorship of the marathon, the company will help promote healthy lifestyles and unity among the people of Selebi Phikwe.
The Selebi Phikwe Marathon is scheduled to take place on July 29, 2023. It is expected that it will attract international, regional, and social runners. A total of P216 000 has been allocated for the prize money for the first ten places in the 42.2 km race. For the 15km and 10km races, the LOC will give away prizes to the first five places.
Sport
Big Guns for Botswana Grand Prix
The National Stadium will be lit up with fireworks on April 29, 2023, as some of the best international athletes will participate in the maiden Botswana Grand prix.
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Sport
AFRICA’S RECOVERY: Sports as game changer
The year 2022 witnessed unprecedented phenomena. Several Africans- Gotytom Gebreslase, Sharon Lokedi, Victor Kiplangat, Tamarit Tola and many others- swept the World’s marathons records.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting control measures implemented in several countries, led to many high-level sports competitions being cancelled or shelved, the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games was moved to 2026.
Founder and Executive Chairman, African Sports and Creative Institute, Will Mabiakop, says the inability to hold traditional and amateur sports events have had a serious effect on public health overall, including mental health, sparking a revolution whereby athletes began to talk more openly about stress, mental overload and performance anxiety.
“Africa is home to the fastest growing economies before the crisis, no longer on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). COVID-19 deepened interdependence between SDGs, making them harder to achieve, especially SDG 10 (reducing inequality) and SDG 5 (gender equality_ as the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on poorer countries, and heavier burdens (such as care work) fell to women.”
Mabiakop stresses that as policymakers contemplate actions to speed up recovery and build resilience, they must argue that sports and creative businesses should play a central feature in this effort.
“The sports economy worldwide is estimated at 5% of GDP, but only 0.5% in Africa. If exploited, Africa’s sports and creative industries can offer policymakers innovative solutions. Especially, as regards job creation, and providing employment to the 15 million people entering the job market annually.”
HOW CAN THE INDUSTRY DO THIS?
By leveraging the two-for-one concept: past studies shown that a 1% growth in the economy delivers a 2% job increment in this sector (these ratios are calculated using data from 48 African countries and adjusted to the reality of the sports economy in Africa by the authors). There are between 30 and 50 job types, in sports and creative industries, respectively. These jobs do not fade away with the first major shock.
Mabiakop indicated that policymakers can use these industries to tackle multiple crises- jobs, poverty, and climate risks. Sports diplomacy- defined as communication, representation and negotiation in or through the prism of sports- has proven effective in building inclusive and cohesive societies. Moreover, sports and the creative industry can support better mental health and well-being, both important for productivity.
“Policymakers can also be true to the game by leveraging culture and tradition to celebrate identity and reap commercial value in sports, textiles and jewelry. Creative sectors allow deeper connection with culture, are not easily copied and provide great economic potential.”
He said supporting grassroots sports has powerful distributional effects. “Fortunately, technology has made reaching wide audiences easier, generating higher rates of success when talent is discovered.”
However, Mabiakop held that potential pitfalls must be highlighted. “First avoid build it and they will come policies with infrastructures denuded from the rest of the ecosystem. Like the many sports stadiums left largely unused.”
“Policymakers must remain mindful of how these sectors move the needle in human capital development. Also, align the requisite public policies needed for progress from grassroots participation to professional sports, and even to international sporting events. They should also support investment instruments to render these sectors performant.”