Botswana observes ‘ The around the World Relay’
BNOC, French embassy jointly hosted ‘ Relais Autor du Monde’ event ahead of Paris 2024
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are drawing closer with the international multi- sport event scheduled to take place from 26 July to 11 August 2024 in Paris, France.
Botswana National Olympic Committee ( BNOC) will be sending a team to represent Botswana at this edition of the Games in France, looking to better the performances at the 2020 Tokyo games.
The French Embassy in Botswana has been labelled the “Terre de Jeux 2024” by the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committee, which allows them to organize various events under the Theme of Sports ahead of Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Around the World Relay or ( Relais Autor du Monde), a one- hour walk took place in a period of 24 hours around the world, with different French embassies organizing their own events during their given time slots and pass the relay respectively.
Bot swana Nat ional Olympic Committee this week joined hands with the French Embassy in Gaborone, Botswana to organize the Around the World Relay, to raise awareness and promote the Paris 2024 Games in the country.
French ambassador to Botswana, Laurance Beau, when giving her remarks highlighted that the walk is part of the United Nation’s concerted effort to promote peace and security in the world.
“It is with great honor that I, together with the BNOC, receive you today ( Wednesday) at the French Residence for the “Terre de Jeux 2024” Relay around the world, one of the many events that we will organize ahead of the Olympics games that will take place in Paris in July and August 2024. In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, making a historical link to the opening date of the first Olympic Games in 1896,” Beau stated.
This will be one of many activities that the two organizations intend to cohost as Team Botswana prepares to qualify and eventually participate at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In 2015, in a historic move for the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, the United Nations’ report on the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) officially mentioned sport as an “important partner” in sustainable development and since then, this day has been celebrated every year.
According to Beau, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also very committed to promoting sport as a tool for social and sustainable development, in favor of inclusion and equality of individuals.
She added that, during the Generation Equality Forum, a call of the equality generation for sport was launched with actors from all horizons, including the 2024 Olympic Committee and it will be the very first games in history to respect strict parity between men and women.