The much anticipated World Athletics Relay qualifiers scheduled for Gaborone on April 1st, 2023 are expected to cost close to P4 million.
The World Qualifying relays which will be held in Africa for the first time will afford local, regional, continental and other global athletes an opportunity to qualify for other international events such as the World Athletics Championships slated for Hungary in August 19th-27th and Paris Olympics next year in France.
The event will be hosted by Lefika Athletics Club on behalf of Botswana Athletics Association(BAA).
Without giving a breakdown of the budget, Local Organising Committee Chairman- Moses Bantsi, said they are looking towards the private sector to assist financially for the successful hosting of the relays.
“To host successful relays will need a lot of countries to participate, have enough resources and buy-in from stakeholders like media for publicity and sponsors and partners. For now we can’t break down the budget as we are still engaging potential sponsors and partners, yes we are looking upon the corporate sector to help raise that amount. BAA provide an enabling environment and support in kind like competition venue and others,” said Bantsi.
In addition the relays have been seen as a welcome development since it will add more to qualifying events in Africa.
In the past years, athletes have been forced to seek qualifying competitions in Europe and the other continents since Championships are limited in Africa.
“Lefika did apply to BAA who are a World Athletics affiliate and the request was acceded to. They then followed up with the application for status to World Athletics and Confederation of African Athletics which the club hosts on behalf of BAA.”
According to Bantsi the intention is to see the relays growing in leaps and bounds and being hosted annually, getting accreditation from World Athletics initially as a continental tour with the hope of reaching gold status following years of growth and improvements. “Invitations to all regional countries and African countries to compete at this year’s relays have been sent. It has always been a dream for the continent to have an event of this nature,” he said.
