Rainy days for World Athletics Relays
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday December 15, 2025 06:00
Botswana submitted its bid by July 2024, and the next edition of the relays will be hosted in Nassau in The Bahamas, on April 22–23, 2028. The event will be held at the National Stadium, Gaborone. Sponsors of the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 include Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC), with a sponsorship of over P3 million.
The company will also provide high-speed Wi-Fi at National Stadium, Wi-Fi at the University of Botswana stadium, which will be the warm-up area, and mobile connectivity.
BTC is joined by Halfway Toyota, who are transport sponsors with nearly 50 vehicles valued at P15 million.
Another company is Diamond College Botswana, which will be crafting and manufacturing all event medals; each medal will feature a polished diamond, with an accompanying competition linked to the medal design.
Minister of Sport and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng, encouraged the wider business community to support the highly anticipated global competition.
He said 2026 represents a year of extraordinary milestones, a dual celebration, as Botswana hosts the first-ever World Athletics Relays on African soil, and at the same time, it marks 60 years of independence.
“Such an occasion would not be possible without the steadfast and visionary support of our sponsors, who have chosen not just to invest in athletics but to invest in Botswana’s legacy,” Kelebeng said when speaking at the sponsorship launch.
“Athletics, at its heart, captures what it means to be a Motswana, the drive, the resilience, the pursuit of greatness. With the partnership from our sponsors, we have the privilege of sharing this spirit with the world, elevating our athletes and inspiring every citizen.”
For his part World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 CEO, Moses Bantsi, said when the idea to bid for the relay started, it was an ambition nurtured by a determined few individuals.
He explained that through willpower and belief, they have overcome all odds to stand on the global stage.
“World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 is more than a sporting event; it is a milestone and an opportunity for national pride. Gaborone now stands as the gateway to African excellence, proclaiming to the world that we are prepared, capable, and exceptional.
“Our mission is not simply to meet, but to surpass global standards. Doing so will secure our economy, elevate our standing, and inspire other African countries to dream big,” Bantsi said.
Meanwhile, Gaborone Mayor, Oarabile Motlaleng, noted that hosting the relays is a catalyst for transformation that extends far beyond the lanes of the National Stadium.
He said it is about accelerating urban development, enhancing infrastructure, and igniting a renewed sense of civic pride in every neighbourhood, from Block Six to Village, Old Naledi, and Phakalane.
“The influx of global athletes, officials, media, and supporters presents an unparalleled opportunity to stimulate our local economy, empower our small businesses, and create lasting legacies in tourism and urban amenities,” Motlaleng said.