Botswana debunks Africa's hosting myth
Mqondisi Dube | Friday May 8, 2026 09:57
Despite Africa's evident progress from the dark colonialism period, the continent has largely remained on the periphery of global affairs. The 'Dark Continent' tag has lingered for centuries, and despite shifting paradigms, Africa has played a supporting cast despite its vast resources and being home to the world's youngest population. From limited seats at the top of decision-making bodies like the United Nations, Africa has been left to play second fiddle, which has extended to sport's field of play. For instance, it took Africa 80 years to host its first ever World Cup despite the continent being home to 54 of FIFA's 210 members. With the rotation policy abolished, the World Cup might not be coming to Africa anytime soon, after the 54 nations got their share through the hosting of the event in South Africa in 2010.
FIFA officially abolished its continental rotation policy for hosting the World Cup in October 2007, effective from the 2018 bidding process. There have been no Olympic Games staged on the continent despite the first recorded Olympic Games being held in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. It has been almost a century since Canada hosted the first Commonwealth Games, but Africa has remained a participant, and not the organiser of the competition. The continent has struggled to host major sporting events, with African countries' organisational capabilities often brought into question.
Despite being overlooked, Africa has proved a capable host on the odd occasion that organisers have approved their bid. Doubters ate humble pie as the 2010 World Cup achieved a cumulative global television audience of 26 billion viewers, solidifying the competition's place as a major global media event.
Africa retains an element of authentic, organic ways of organising competitions, with unmatched enthusiasm. The vuvuzela, a plastic horn, became an iconic item during the football spectacle in South Africa, adding a unique layer to the tournament.
Organising international tournaments is often taxing, requiring a complete revamp of infrastructure, costing billions of dollars in a continent that has other pressing priorities like health and education.
However, the monolithic perspectives of the continent often mask Africa's diversity, with other nations far more advanced and therefore capable of hosting global events. Africa's story is no longer one dominated by poverty, famine and endless wars. The continent is rapidly moving towards the centre role in global affairs. Sport is regarded as one of the many critical vehicles to propel the continent to play a key role in global conversations. Projections indicate that by 2040, Africa's total relative power could surpass that of the European Union and the United States, signalling a major move from the margins to the centre. Hosting global sport competitions presents an opportunity for the continent to shed unwanted stereotypes that have persisted despite evidence of a rapid shift.
The sporting world – 40 nations and 723 athletes to be precise – was in Botswana on May 2 and 3, 2026, for the eighth edition of the World Relays, a premier global competition. The eight-year-old competition became one of the few to be staged in Africa while at their infancy, as it has taken longer for other global events to be hosted in Africa. The Southern African nation of 2.6 million put up a two-day show that had the world engaging positively despite earlier doubts over the country's preparedness. Top athletes who graced the event were left purring.
'Thanks, Gaborone Batswana, for having us. We had a time. The devil tried to schedule your downfall, but God declined the appointment! You’re coming out on top!' top female athlete, Elaine Thompson-Hera wrote at the end of the competition.
Great Britain athlete, Jack Minshull, who led his nation's 4x400m mixed relay team to a bronze medal, also had rave reviews. 'Botswana... you were ELECTRIC. The crowd, the noise, the energy... unreal from start to finish. Thank you for making it such a special experience,' Minshull wrote on his verified Facebook page.
As Africa's efforts to gain recognition at sport's top table gather traction, influential administrators are adding their voice. World Athletics president, Sebastian Coe, was impressed with the organisation of the first World Relays in Africa.
He praised Botswana’s preparations and infrastructure as a 'blueprint' for sustainable sport development.
'Botswana hosting the event showcases that Africa has come of age in its ability to host top-tier global sports competitions,' Coe said during a press briefing.
“The very fact that these relays are coming to Africa for the first time means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to the continent. This is a continent that has, over the last 50 years, delivered in such passion and such talent extraordinary athletes into our sport. The history of athletics in this continent is in large part the history of world athletics in the last half century,' Coe added. The Gaborone World Relays achieved a massive global reach, with over 102 million viewers tuning in through television and online streaming, proving a strong appetite for such historic events.
The Relays were further made unique by the host country's decision to hand out medals featuring natural diamonds sourced from Botswana, the world's leading producer of the gems by value.
The competition presented what Africa can offer- debunking long-standing blanket myths of a continent in perpetual suffering. Instead, the Gaborone story presents renewed hope for further hosting opportunities.
Botswana created a two-day carnival where 30,000 people walked through the capital's National Stadium turnstiles to witness the World Relays history and counter stereotyping.
It is the Gaborone moments that could banish Nixon and ilk's worldview of a continent that 'just can't run things.'