Athletes ramp up World Relays’ readiness in Letlhakane camp
Mbongeni Mguni | Tuesday April 21, 2026 09:45
Botswana Athletics Association CEO, Mabua Mabua told Sport Monitor that locating the camp in Letlhakane had helped the athletes focus on their training and abilities for the event.
“The environment they are in provides the best opportunity for them by detaching them from the distractions of Gaborone and other urban areas,” he said.
“They are very focussed and are doing very well with four premium coaches as well as world class equipment. Letlhakane is a place where they can focus on what they need to do.”
Mabua paid tribute to Lucara for its sponsorship, while also applauding other support that has been given to the country’s elite athletes. He said the diamond company’s support was symbolic of the good development that natural diamonds do.
“Basically, this is telling the world that these are our diamonds and these are the kind of facilities that produce the athletes that we have,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Duma Boko yesterday unveiled diamond-embedded medals that will be given out to the winners of the upcoming World Athletics Relays.
Sponsored by Okavango Diamond Company (ODC), each medal contains an embedded natural diamond, as well as engraved designs that highlight the country’s tourism.
The 120 medals, gold, silver and bronze, are designed to shine a spotlight on both natural diamonds as the anchor of country’s development, but also the powerful branding around iconic tourism sites and species such as elephants.
Boko said the ODC’s P10 million donation to the World Athletic Relays event was a reminder than diamonds do more than just shine, but rather have purpose.
“This is more than just a design choice, it is a statement and a powerful reminder that behind every natural diamond is a place, a people, and a story shaped by time, treasure, responsibility, and a vision that we express with clarity always,” he said.
“As athletes compete for these medals, they will not only compete for victory, but they will carry with them a piece of Botswana. As the medals travel the world and rest on the chest of champions, they will quietly tell Botswana's story, a story of resilience, a story of leadership, a story of a people whose brilliance continues to shine across the world on the global stage. But just as importantly, this initiative ensures that the people of Botswana are part of this movement.”
Boko revealed that Botswana had also secured national broadcast rights for the upcoming event.
“Every Motswana will have the opportunity to witness this global event. We believe that we cannot host the world and exclude our own people from this experience. This moment belongs to the nation,” he said.
The prestigious meet is set for May 2 and 3 at the National Stadium and has already attracted top global names in athletics.