Choppies urged to incentivise athletes before qualifiers
Botswana National Olympic Committee ( BNOC) Acting Chief Executive Officer ( CEO), Wedu Motswetla has suggested that investments on athletes should be made before they qualify for the Olympic Games so that athletes can qualify in large numbers and make the podium at the games.
This comes after local retail store Choppies dangled a P1 million carrot to athletes who will be competing at the Tokyo Olympics Games in a few weeks’ time. If an athlete wins a gold medal they will get P1 million, those who grab silver will be awarded P500k, bronze winners
settle for P250k while finalists will get P25k.
“We have discussed these incentives with Choppies and we have never hidden our opinion; it’s better to put in an investment so that athletes get a better opportunity for a shot on medals,“she said in a recent interview.
Moreover, she said they will sit down with Choppies and discuss how they can partner before athletes qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
Reached for comment Choppies Marketing Manager, Katlego Gaborone confirmed they have been in discussions with the BNOC. “They hope we can do more going into the 2024 Olympics, but we will need to understand what the athletes need to qualify for the Olympics. We should be able to come to the
fold and see what our role can be leading to the Olympics and if we can afford it.
“As an organisation we can only give when the resources are available; we have availed this money currently and we have been supporting athletes like Baboloki Thebe for the past three years.
We are not only supporting athletics as we also have a P3million sponsorship with the Botswana Football Association ( BFA).”
Furthermore, she urged other companies to join them in assisting sport financially. “Corporate Botswana needs to come on board to assist; we do what we can to the best of our ability and all of us need to be supportive and assist where possible,” she said.