From stadia to GDP, summit targets sports economy

Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday June 9, 2026 09:47

The summit, scheduled for June 25 to 26, 2026 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC), was officially launched during a press briefing in Gaborone on Friday. Business of Sport Summit founder, Bonni Dintwa, explained that the initiative was born out of a desire to align with government's ambition of ensuring that sport and the creative industries contribute significantly to the country's gross domestic product (GDP). 'We have invested in sport for years and many of us are beneficiaries of that investment, but what have we really given back in cash terms to the country?' Dintwa said. 'How do we make sure that the next generation of athletes has the resources to develop and grow? Those are some of the questions that gave birth to this summit.' Dintwa added that while sport has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry globally and across Africa, Botswana has not fully unlocked the economic opportunities within the sector.

He argued that despite substantial corporate sponsorships, the financial return on investment for businesses remains difficult to quantify, making it harder to attract more funding into sport. 'If there is no return on investment in the economy, nobody is going to take money from their pockets and put it into sport,' Dintwa said. 'That is why government leadership is important. We need policies that make it easier for money to flow into sport and for sport to grow,' he stated. According to Dintwa, the concept has been in development for nearly two years, with discussions initially held with the Ministry of Sport before eventually gaining support from the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC), Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) and Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC). Held under the theme 'Connect, Inspire, Transform', the summit aims to bring together government, the private sector, state-owned enterprises, sports federations, investors, broadcasters, tourism operators and other stakeholders to map a pathway for the growth of Botswana's sports economy.

Amongst key topics to be discussed are economic transformation through sport, policy reforms, sports investment and financing, sports tourism, corporate return on investment, broadcasting rights, intellectual property, athlete protection and commercialisation. Dintwa described Botswana as a 'sleeping giant' in sports tourism, citing the country's strategic location at the centre of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and its potential to attract regional sporting events. The summit will also examine how sports betting revenues can be responsibly channelled back into sports development, while experts from international organisations, including Spain's La Liga, are expected to share insights on building globally competitive sports brands.

Dintwa noted that the long-term vision is to create a thriving sports economy that benefits athletes, entrepreneurs, investors and communities alike. 'Five years from now, we want people who are millionaires within the sports ecosystem,' he said. Organisers hope the annual summit will become a catalyst for transforming sport from a largely participation-driven sector into a sustainable economic engine capable of contributing meaningfully to Botswana's development agenda.