‘Pay rise’ for national team athletes
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Tumiso Rakgare has announced improved incentives for national teams. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Rakgare said Cabinet approved the new figures on Monday. He said over the years there has been an erosion of the incentives that have been in place since 2012.
“Men and women in all teams attaining the same results at the same competitions will be rewarded equally. Appearance fees payment has been revised. The highest amount has been increased by P1,500, which is a 43% increase. A national record from the Commonwealth
Games would earn an athlete P75,000 from the P30,000 in the old instrument. The national record from the Olympic Games is P100,000,” he said.
Rakgare said any podium finish at the Olympics would earn an athlete a house. He said that has been formalised by Cabinet. He said the value, size and location of the houses would be determined by the government in consultation with the relevant stakeholders including the athletes.
Rakgare said the junior national teams are also included in the reward package.
The minister said the packages for coaches have also been increased but they will not be paid equally to athletes. He said some of the rewards will be paid according to the categorisation of sport. He said the Botswana
National Sport Commission tier system will be applied along with the package. Rakgare said the system has to be aligned and be up to date.
Meanwhile, the minister announced the return of school sport.
“School sport returns in May. I am happy to announce that we have made enough progress that school sport will be back in government schools. Although, not in all its entirety, it would be sufficient enough to have an impact on the sports development agenda,” he said.
Rakgare said several recommendations made by the School Sport Task Team will be implemented in school sport even during the pilot phase in 2022. He said they expect it to operate at optimum level next year.