Propelled by a presidential target of 30 medals, the young sports girls and boys garnered a total of 34, including seven gold and an array of silver and bronze. From the organisation, to the attendances, the safety/security protocols and support, the event was a rip-roaring success. Corporate Botswana, government and ordinary Batswana came together to stage the country’s biggest sporting event and our young sportspeople – mostly in senior schools – did not disappoint with breath-taking displays of talent, determination and passion. As we bid our African brothers and sisters goodbye, as a nation we need to introspect on the lessons learnt from the Youth Games.
Logistics experts, even outside of sports, should take their cue from the organisation of the Youth Games, while the police, immigration, City Council and others all have their homework cut out for them. Critically, though, the greatest lesson that the Youth Games convey is the need for a cross-sectoral paradigm shift on the prioritisation of sporting codes in this country. For far too long, focus and effort, resources and support have predominantly been showered on football at its various levels, to the detriment of other sports codes, which in most instances are comparatively more successful. While football is undoubtedly the most widely supported code in terms of fans, it is our boxers, our athletes, our karatekas, our swimmers and others who have brought Botswana glory on the world stage.
