The Summit Organization breathes life into World Relays
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday April 13, 2026 06:00
The Summit Organisation managing director, Bongani Moyo, told MmegiSport that the idea is to carry out a sideline programme, together with the national ‘2000 Children to History’ Campaign, as a unified legacy platform designed to ensure that Botswana’s hosting of the global event delivers long-term national impact beyond the competition itself. “This initiative is anchored in a clear legacy vision, to position Botswana as a leader in sports diplomacy, tourism growth, youth empowerment, and inclusive economic development, ensuring that the historic moment translates into sustainable opportunity, national pride and shared prosperity,” he said.
“We have invited President Advocate Duma Boko as the official host of the Presidential Golf Day, for him to perform the ceremonial tee-off symbolising the opening of a high-level national and international engagement platform.” Moyo added that other events planned are a gala dinner, a colloquium and executive lounges.
He explained that the objectives are the inclusion of the downtrodden, marginalised, and outlying communities from the CKGR to the Okavango Delta, across Ramokgwebana, under the slogan of '#passthebaton'.
Moyo said they have partnered with the Francistown Mayor’s office, the Francistown Athletics Club, and Selebi-Phikwe Town Council.
“We seek to onboard 2,000 tickets for these communities, every Golf 4-ball we buy tickets and the same for the gala dinner. The colloquium is a decisive possibility of positive energy to bring Gaborone back as a tourism hub via vendor tourism,” Moyo said. “We are also in talks to bring the South Africa rugby team, Springboks captain, Siya Kolisi, Makazole Mapimpi (Springbok icon), Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira (Springboks legend), and Odwa Ndungane (former Springbok player). It is also a work in progress to invite Kgomotso Ndungane (Master of the Greens).”
Moyo announced that the official headline speaker will be Dr Mteto Nyato, chairperson of the Eskom Board, and the final logistics are being implemented by Eskom.
He said they are in the process of concluding negotiations with Neville Matjie (Brand South Africa chief executive officer [CEO]). Negotiations are underway to invite Gauteng tourism authority CEO, Sthembiso Dlamini.
According to Moyo, they are also negotiating with the Nelson Mandela Foundation chairperson’s office, Dr Naledi Pandor, to attend the summit.
The sport investment and tourism gala dinner will be held on April 30 at GICC. Moyo said they are in final negotiations to secure the attendance of the 4x400m relay team members, Letsile Tebogo, Lee Bhekimpilo Eppie, Bayapo Ndori, and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi.
The colloquium will be held during the day on April 30 at the GICC, which will be a platform for working on core-aligning policy, projects and capital to convert vision into investable outcomes. “Using sport as the entry point, it connects infrastructure, tourism and private investment opportunities, including vendor and SME tourism integration to ensure local enterprise participation in event-linked value chains.
“The Colloquium transforms ideas into national and continental action. A curated engagement platform covering sports investment, sports tourism and athlete development, creative industries and regional value chains,” he said. Bongani added that the summit will showcase Botswana’s sports tourism and promote investment tied to World Athletics Relays.
He said they are on course for 2000 World Athletics Relays tickets for the less privileged members of the community, and the first donation is from Rhapsody’s Botswana (Sebele and Phakalane) of 40 tickets worth P8,000 to Linchwe Junior Secondary School and Pudologong Rehabilitation Centre in Mochudi.
AbariCom has also bought 40 tickets worth P8,000, as well as an additional P2,000 allocated towards meals for beneficiaries from Pudulogong.
Frank 'Frankie' Fredericks, a former track and field athlete from Namibia, has confirmed his attendance at all events from the colloquium to the race days.