BNSC OUTSHINES BNOC AT OLYMPICS TEAM RECEPTION
Botswana National Olympics Committee (BNOC) found themselves at the back seat during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team Botswana’s visit to the State House on Friday.
The Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) was in charge of the event starting with conducting of proceedings to giving closing remarks. While BNOC board chairperson, Colonel Botsang Tshenyego was present at the ceremony, he did not say a word.
The only thing that BNOC did was to sing the National Anthem and offer a prayer. Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) was also nowhere to be found at the occasion. One would have expected BNOC to be part of the programme since they are the custodians of the team.
The Master of Ceremonies, Tuelo Serufho who is also the BNSC chief executive officer (CEO), went to the extent of promising President Mokgweetsi Masisi more medals from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He also promised that Botswana would double the number of athletes to the Olympics. In such instances, one would have expected Serufho to talk about World Championships which are under his mandate and not the Olympics.
It was also interesting when Masisi was given a Nike tracksuit and he also asked for an All Kasi one. Nike is the sponsor of BAA while All Kasi is the sponsor of the Olympics team hospitality kit.
“I am looking forward to All Kasi. Yes, I like All Kasi and I want to see them and other local brands dress our national team. I have nothing against Nike,” Masisi said.
The president said if the team bring medals from the next Olympics, they would receive more incentives from the government. “Another opportunity would emerge in four years and you cannot start preparing in four years. We are going to reward you with the best prizes that Botswana could pay.
They cannot be less than what you are getting now,” Masisi said. The President was also given a BNSC blazer. However, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare was wearing a BNOC one. Over the years, there has been an outcry from BNOC that BNSC takes their limelight upon return from Olympics.
Even when Serufho was still BNOC CEO, he faced the same challenge. The team comprised Chef de Mission, Tshepo Sitale, coaches, and the athletes. Nigel Amos and James Freeman are back in the USA and Isaac Makwala, who is in Europe, were not part of the team.
The team visited the State House to showcase the bronze medal that was won by the men’s 4x400m relay team. The government has taken a decision to build two bedroomed houses for the six members of the team. During the ceremony, Masisi was also informed about the retirement of Amantle Victor Nkape-Montsho.