Botswana presents G Big 5 legacy in New Zealand
On 28 July 2022, the 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games lody officially Dube opened was the in Birmingham, first MotswaEngland, with more than 5,000 na athletes to reach from the 72 finals countries of competing the across 280 events. Olympics. Botswana has He sent achieved a team of this 35 athletes at to represent
the country, 2000 Summer with the highest Olympics, age of which an athlete on the team
being 47, from Bowling, and the lowest being Neo Phatsima
were held in Sydney, Australia. Glody
at 16. The Games will run until 08 August 2022. This year’s
was Botswana’s middle distance runner,
games came with notable records for Botswana, through
who Neo Phatsima, specialized a Squash in 800 athlete, metres. who was born on 15 March
2006. The Phatsima Summer was Olympic amongst Games the multitudes are a that witnessed
major the opening international ceremony multi- in Birmingham, sport event. registering herself
Competing in the history in books these as games the youngest is almost athlete to represent
every Botswana athlete’s at the games, dream and and one requires of the first squash female
consistency athletes to compete in training at the level and of the massive Commonwealth Games,
since Botswana’s first participation in 1974. The 16 year old is
amounts of determination. The games
representing the country in the women’s doubles and women’s
are held once every four years.
singles of Squash, together with 17 year old Leungo Katse. Phatsima Through started his playing achievements, squash at Glody the age of 10 at Camp
is Primary an inspiration School in Gaborone to upcoming and in and 2016 she joined the
Established in 1994, the International level, and at association/ federation
younger Botswana athletes. Squash Rackets When Association he competed athlete development
Working Group ( IWG) on Women & level it was an even much lower Sport is the world’s largest network ( 0- 36.4 percent) with an average of
at program, the Sydney which 2000, later
dedicated to advancing gender equity 19.5percent. led Australia to her qualification Summer for the games.
and equality in sport, physical educaAccording to Dr Trivedi, since
Olympic Other young Games, participants he had at just the completed games include 14 year old
tion and physical activity. 2017, various interventions have
The IWG advocates and runs protaken place to empower girls and
his Anahat Botswana Singh, who General is the youngest Certificate participant of of the Indian
grammes globally year- round. Evwomen through various structures
contingent, also playing squash, and 14 year old diver, Charli
ery four years, the IWG stages the in Botswana. Thus, there was a need
Secondary Education ( BGCSE) at
IWG World Conference on Women to conduct a follow up study, post
Petrov of Australia. In another historic event, the Botswana
& Sport, and the 7th IWG World the 7th IWG Conference, and tak
Maun Senior Secondary School. He
Conference on Women & Sport ing into consideration the IWG Big
Chess Federation Senior Women National Team is compet
took place in Gaborone, Botswana Five Legacy.
was ing at under the 44th the Chess tutelage Olympiad, of Coach in Chennai, Adam India, with the
in 2018, where Botswana’s legacy The study had three objectives, was introduced as, ‘ the Big 5’, a set of being to compare the participation
Letham, youngest team who to was ever also compete his mentor. at the level of the Olympiad.
five key strategic actions, each with and empowerment level of girls and an animal symbol. The Big 5 legacy women from 2017- 2021 in all sports
Other events that he has competed
derived inspiration from Botswana’s codes, to explore the gender discrimi
TAFIC
at include, the 1997 African Junior
biggest tourist attractions, being the nation and biasness in economic and wild animal life, and it is one of the social benefits in sports in Botswana
Championships, 1998 Commonwealth
tools that has been guiding the delivdue to the Covid- 19 pandemic and ery of Women and Sport Botswana to identify the developments based
Games, 1999 World Indoor Champi
( WASBO). The implementation of on the IWG Big 5 Legacy. The data the IWG Botswana Big 5 Legacy collected was analysed and the
onships, 1999 World Championships,
seeks to improve access to sports recommendations are being shared for women of all identities, cultures, at the 8th IWG Conference in New
1999 have All- to satisfy Africa club Games, licensing From 2001 requireWorld
backgrounds, and experiences, imZealand, after which, they will also proving their individual lives and the be shared with different stakeholders
ments, we Championships, have to move at a lightning World
inclusiveness of their communities. locally and international.
requireIndoor 2001
The current IWG Secretariat 2018 In addition, Ms Mothibi and Dr
speed to make sure 2002 that all is in place
– 2022 is held by Aotearoa, New Tshube, also undertook a study which
lightning Championships, Commonwealth
before the 2003 season World starts,” Indoor Dipholo Champi
Zealand, where the 8th IWG Conferaimed to understand how the IWG
in place Games,
ence is ongoing, having started on the had been operated in Botswana and
relayed. In their bid to transform the
14th of November 2022. Botswana its effects on the country as legacies in
Dipholo onships, 2003 World Championships,
is represented by Dr Shikha Trivedi, terms of women’s sports participation
drastically dwindling fortunes of the
who is the Vice Chairperson for and relevant public understanding
transform 2004 Olympic the Games and 2007 All
WASBO, Ms Game Mothibi, who is utilizing mixed research methods.
side, the club has been fully registered
a board member for the IWG, and The findings from their study, ac
of as a company, trading as Tafic Sport
former secretary general for IWG, cording to Ms Mothibi, indicated Dr Tshepang Tshube. Dr Trivedi is that hosting the IWG brought various
registered ing Club. Engagements with potential
leading a legacy presentation from opportunities and helped women be
Sport
WASBO side, while Ms Mothibi, come more empowered in their parand Dr Tshube are presenting from ticipation in sport at different levels.
potential
the Sports Management Agency side. Ms Mothibi also highlighted that
A gender analysis/ baseline study their findings reflected that IWG was conducted in 2017 on participacontributed to the improvement of tion of girls and women in Sports women’s sport conditions in Boand Leadership with the objective to tswana. identify BG correspondent forms and extend of gender Above all, also according to Ms disparities, gender- based violence Mothibi, IWG Botswana legacies and discrimination in Botswana could be a catalyst to build more
FOOTBALL
Sport by Women and Sport Botswana structures and develop more poli( WASBO), in collaboration with the cies for women and sport growth
The journey across the Af
Botswana National Olympic Comnationally. mittee ( BNOC). With findings from their study,
rican continent has been
Results clearly indicated that parthe presenters suggested that further ticipation of girls and women was investigations on the influences of
thrilling for most local teams
very low ( 2- 39.1percent) across the IWG should pay more attention to sports codes. The women’s particilong term local changes of women’s
lately, with the chase for
pation in leadership and managerial conditions in sport fields in hosting level averaged 21.5percent at club countries.
better results in continental football seemingly possible,