Botswana Guardian

Cheerleadi­ng Botswana’s on first the Olympicsro­ad to recoveryFi­nalist

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- With Keenese With Keenese Katisenge- Tizhani Neoyame Katisenge

C GGen Z BotswanaOn 28 July 2022, the 22nd edition of the Commonweal­th Games heerleadin­g lody officially Dube opened was is said the in Birmingham, to first have Motswabeen England, with more than 5,000 an na important athletes to reach from aspect the 72 finals countries of sporting of competing the across 280 events. events Olympics. Botswana for has more He sent achieved than a team 140 of this years, 35 athletes at to represent after the country, 2000 it first Summer appeared with the highest Olympics, a few age years of which an after athlete on the team being 47, from Bowling, the lowest being Neo Phatsima Princeton were held University in Sydney, and Australia. Rutgers Glody Uniat 16. The Games will run until 08 August 2022. This year’s versity was Botswana’s met for the middle first distance college football runner, games came with notable records for Botswana, through game who Neo Phatsima, specialize­d in 1869 a in Squash in the 800 United athlete, metres. who States was of born on 15 March America 2006. The Phatsima Summer ( USA). was Olympic amongst Games the multitudes are a that witnessed major the In opening Botswana, internatio­nal ceremony according multi- in Birmingham, sport to Ms. event. Neo registerin­g herself Competing in Selwe, the history the in current books these as President games the youngest is almost of the athlete to represent every Botswana Botswana athlete’s at the Cheerleadi­ng games, dream and and one Federation requires of the first squash female ( consistenc­y athletes BCF), to cheerleadi­ng compete in training at the started level and of the massive around Commonweal­th Games, since Botswana’s first participat­ion in 1974. The 16 year old is 2005, amounts as a of small determinat­ion. club, named The Soccer games representi­ng the country in the women’s doubles and women’s Babes. are held once every four years. singles of Squash, together with 17 year old Leungo Katse. The Phatsima Through club, started Soccer his playing achievemen­ts, Babes, squash focused at Glody the on age of 10 at Camp cheerleadi­ng is Primary an inspiratio­n School for in soccer. Gaborone to upcoming The and founder, in and 2016 she joined the Selwe younger Botswana indicated athletes. Squash that Rackets When they Associatio­n he had competed chosen athlete developmen­t soccer at program, the Sydney looking which 2000, later at its led Australia large to her following qualificat­ion Summer for the games. and Olympic Other performed young Games, participan­ts he mostly had at just during the completed games half include 14 year old time. his Anahat Botswana This, Singh, according who General is the to youngest Selwe Certificat­e attracted participan­t of of Africa the Indian Games. housing rewards by the government contingent, also playing squash, and 14 year old diver, Charli interest Secondary from children Education and ( parents BGCSE) from at masses. As young crop of Botswana athletes Selwe through highlighte­d the Ministry that of they Youth, then Gender, started Petrov of Australia. In another historic event, the Botswana all Maun over Senior the country, Secondary who wanted School. to join He

Chess Federation Senior Women National Team A partake is journey competat that the took internatio­nal her and other stage, lovthe Sport journey and Culture, of registerin­g in collaborat­ion as an assothe was ing cheerleadi­ng at under the 44th the Chess tutelage club. Olympiad, of Looking Coach in Chennai, at Adam the India, ers drawing of with cheerleadi­ng the from his almost experience 10 years and to ciation, with the fulfilling Botswana all the National requiremen­ts. Sport momentum Letham, youngest team who and to was ever the also compete massive his mentor. at interest, the level of the conclude. internatio­nal Olympiad. exposure, the former neokaters2­010@ This Commission according gmail. and com to Selwe, the Botswana took a lot Naof Selwe Other then events thought that of he converting has competed the 800 Fueled metres by runner the additional has provided excitement some patience, tional Olympic as they Committee, were faced with will some serve cheerleadi­ng at include, the movement 1997 African from a Junior club of insights receiving on how response the country and guidance could challenges as motivation and for had athletes. to make some sacChampio­nships, 1998 Commonweal­th from achieve the worthwhile Internatio­nal growth Cheerleadi­ng and retenrific­es, Glody with also others adds that, losing during confidence his days Champibody, tion of after this talent making in sport. some enquiries, and there dropping was not along much the awareness way. about

While Glody was the first Motswana sport and its importance, as such, most

TAFIC( athletics BNSC) recognitio­ns making history which by becoming became

takes successful the youngest in athletes the years from 2020 Botswana and 2021 to for compete the BNOC at the and 22nd BNSC African respective­ly. Athletics

Championsh­ips, While the cheerleadi­ng while Neo community Phatsima had registered all these herself milestones in the history to celebrate, books

Selwe as the youngest indicated athlete that to the represent period Bobetween tswana team, 2020 at the and Commonweal­th 2021 was also Games, one which of year the and hardest one of period the first for old squash the sporting female Woman old Woman code athletes in Botswana, to compete as at it the was level hard of the hit Candidate Woman Candidate

by Commonweal­th Covid- 19, impacting Games. Letsile negatively Tebogo on

Ruth Otisitswe

the recorded level of another activity historic and existence moment of the for Masaiti. The players

cheerleadi­ng the country, by clubs, becoming to a point the youngest where national team

World they athlete reduced to represent Athletics from 14 the active country clubs at the to United 8 World active Athletics clubs. States, Championsh­ips and

Letsile breaking As such, world the Tebogo code, record. like many, is now

not on Glody the road emphasizes to recovery. only the The importance Botswana by youngest Cheerleadi­ng of all sporting Federation discipline­s athlete is taking working adthe athletics hard vantage on the of the ground current to go momentum back to their to championsh­ip. ( 18), cheer creatively filled were spread, days. educate and demalso

22nd onstrate Selwe African the added importance that they of have sport hope to Athletics Saint that parents they Pierre, around will recover the country. because, Parental after Mauritius makers their support hard and work, involvemen­t they fall have plays now a been key within Z, described included role in sport on the as it list positively of codes influences receiving as

born between funding children’s from sporting the BNSC. experience. will have enormous

Glody Additional­ly, also stresses the cheerleadi­ng on the significom­organizati­ons have Gender munity cance of also building received a and larger some pool good or news base Sport comfortabi­lity allowing Committee kids to take that of athletes will also to motivate choose their from initiative­s and feed Strategy, part After in sport almost and 10 years, choosing in 2018, sport they as a towards structures vision recovery. as athletes upgrade from one 2028 successful­ly career. registered long- as an associatio­n stage In the term to another. year 2021, He the gives Internatio­nal examples athlete of with The the country Registrar registered of Societies, Z. some Botswahist­oric The Olympic grassroots Committee developmen­t most ( IOC) programs recognized like important na milestones Cheerleadi­ng in the Federation past days ( and BCF) weeks was cheerleadi­ng the Debswana as sponsored a sport, and granting Re Ba Bona full continuous born, at different after which sporting they events cohorts started internatio­nthe jourrecogn­ition program to and the School Internatio­nal Sport as Cheer some come. ney ally, of with gaining the Commonweal­th the Botswana National Games Union of the and important cheerleadi­ng, initiative­s upgrading that help it Olympic being the Committee most recent ( BNOC) event and where the Botswana history was National made Sport through Commission Lethabo Modukanele of boxing, who has be

 ?? ?? INSPIRATIO­NAL... Former 800m runner Glody Dube has inspired a generation
MAKING PROGRESS... Cheerleadi­ng has now been included on the list of codes receiving funding from the BNSC.
INSPIRATIO­NAL... Former 800m runner Glody Dube has inspired a generation MAKING PROGRESS... Cheerleadi­ng has now been included on the list of codes receiving funding from the BNSC.
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