Swimming in P5m sponsorship hunt
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday July 20, 2026 06:00
She added they will soon announce the names of the sponsors.
“It is our time to host on the Zone IV roster,” Matthews said. “Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) gave us absolutely no issues when we approached them in 2024 about hosting the championships.”
According to Matthews, beyond the competition, the championships would provide an opportunity to showcase Botswana's hospitality, sporting infrastructure, and commitment to youth and sports development.
She said the event would also offer local swimmers a chance to compete against some of the region's best athletes on home soil.
A total of 14 member countries will participate in the competition, with only Comoros not taking part, with Matthews describing the turnout as encouraging.
She revealed that organisers expect to welcome more than 300 elite swimmers, over 70 officials and hundreds of supporters.
Matthews said the competition will be held at the University of Botswana (UB) swimming pool, the country's only competition-ready 50-metre pool.
'The plan is to host a capacity-building workshop for technical officials. It will not be the first because we have already held one workshop, after which we finalised the list of officials who will be on duty. We will hold one more workshop before the event,' she added.
Matthews said hosting the championships gives the BSSA an advantage in selecting a larger team, thereby improving Botswana's prospects of success. She said a squad of 42 top swimmers has been selected.
'We have a development programme sponsored by Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB), which means some of the swimmers in the programme are part of the team,' she stated.
'We also have swimmers who are training outside the country in the team.'
Matthews said the championships come at a time when Botswana continues to establish itself as a capable, safe, and efficient host of regional and continental sporting events.
Additionally, hosting the championships also aligns with the country's ambition to develop world-class athletes and expand competitive opportunities for young people, she said.