Botswana: The Ngwaketse tribe welcomed the members of the Olympic Team to their territory for the first time since their return. The officials have shared that the leadership of the tribe has ed from their victorious battle at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
They were welcomed with rain, infinite ululations, and honor at the Ngwaketse Main Kgotla this morning. The officials have shared that the members of the Olympic 2024 team need the acknowledgement and applause after their performance in France.
The event sought to highlight the hardwork and commitment of the team towards their sport. The officials have shared some images from the celebration for the team, applauding their success.
Kgosi Malope II delivered the opening address at the celebration. He acknowledged the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) and the Ministry for making this tour a priority.
He thanked them for bringing the team to the Ngwaketse tribe region and allow them to meet youngsters in the community. It has presented Batswana with the opportunity to meet their young athletic champions.
The officials have shared that they are delighted with the idea. The Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Tumiso Rakgare was also present at the celebration.
The minister was elated to highlight that history will recognise the performance and success that was displayed by this 2024 Olympic team making Batswana proud of their nationality. He alluded that this team has paved thee way for the young upcoming athletes to believe in themselves and actually take sport seriously to potentially make a better living for themselves.
Rakgare echoed that since the year 2020, the Ministry has committed to giving sport and its athletes dignity through financial efforts such as appearance fees, olympic qualification fees, and medal achievement fees. The 2024 olympic team was generously gifted with houses.
Speaking on the newly introduced program, Matlhagolatsela which seeks to proactively allow primary school students to participate in sporting activities every term with the aid of professional sports teachers and coaches.
This initiative soars to educate young athletes on the importance of practicing sober habits and adapting positive mindsets while gratifying both the student needs for sports and their coaches/sports teacher’s fees in collaboration with Botswana Sports Committes. “P80M will be injected into this program,” said Tumiso Rakgare.