NEW SPORT ORDER ESTABLISHED

following previous rifts between both the BNSC and the BNOC over athletes and resources. Initially the mandate of the BNSC was to develop sporting talents through programmes such as ‘ Re ba Bona ha’talent identification festivals. On the flipside, the BNOC’s mandate was to manage elite athletes and prepare them for competitions like the Olympic games.

Nevertheless, there were recently blurred lines between the mandates of the two organisations as the BNSC rolled out elite athletes programmes such as the elite Zebras fund. “This is a unique and unprecedented event in the history of our sport. For decades now, we have always known the two organisations’ mutual interest in development and organisation of sport in the country, at the various levels,” Morule said.

Furthermore, the BNSC chairman explained: “Equally, we have always talked about the existence of overlaps in some of our functions, and indeed that we could collaborate to make sport delivery in Botswana more efficient, effective and financially prudent.” Morule said this was not the first time that the two organisations worked together.

“A few years ago we agreed to jointly deliver the Sport Awards, hence the change of name from BNSC Awards to Botswana Sports Awards.

In the last few years, we have been collaboratively organising the annual Sport Science and Coaches Symposium; and the two organisations jointly facilitated Botswana’s preparation for and competition at the 2019 African Games.”

According to Morule the MoU will provide the most congenial environment in which the sports fraternity can excel. “The initial 5-year period of this MoU should see a considerable movement in the way we implement sport in the country, and it can only be through us as Sport people working together in unison.”