Lack of funding slows BNOC’s preps
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday February 5, 2022 06:00
The games are scheduled for July 28 to August 8 and the BNOC is playing a waiting game with its parent ministry, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC).
BNOC strategy and business development manager, Baboni Kupe told Mmegi Sport that preparations have been slow due to a lack of funding. “Fortunately, most of the athletes are preparing with the assistance of their National Sport Associations (NSA) as they are also preparing for other games taking place this year, in the run-up to their participation at the Commonwealth Games,” she said.
She explained that an initial budget of over P12 million was submitted to MYSC in 2019 requesting funding for major games preparations. Kupe said the budget was later revised in September 2020 and as it stands, they are still waiting for confirmation of funding. Meanwhile, Kupe has shed light on recent reports the BNOC had tightened requirements for medical doctors accompanying teams to international assignments. Kupe said there have been no changes to requirements. “As is the procedure followed by BNOC, an invitation to qualified sport medical personnel is sent out for submission of expressions of interest in working with our teams as they prepare for major competitions.
The selection of those individuals accompanying the teams are dependent on the official quotas provided by the organisers of the games, in this case, Birmingham 2022,” she said.
Kupe said they have already received expressions of interest and therefore would be assembling the team soon. In January, acting BNOC chief executive officer (CEO), Wedu Motswetla sent out a circular calling for expression of interest for medical personnel for the 2022-2024 Games.
According to the circular, in the 2021-2024 quadrennial, the BNOC would prepare and send Team Botswana to various major games including Commonwealth Games, Africa Youth Games, Africa and World Beach Games and the Olympics. “In view of the above and in an effort to enhance the capacity and experience of Batswana sports medicine personnel, professionals in the following areas are invited to submit their expression of interest to work with the teams in the lead up to the games as well as to potentially comprise the medical team at the games, physiotherapists and sports therapists, massage therapists, psychologists, medical doctors, nutritionists/dieticians, exercise physiologists and physical trainers,” the circular reads in part. Motswetla said through the communiqué that expression of interest and/or engagement to work with teams during the preparations period does not guarantee travel to the games. She said the final medical team would be determined by the team preparations and the High Performance Committee guided by the team quota for Botswana.