Youth Games embarrassment lies in wait?
Mpho Tlale | Friday May 16, 2014 17:44
Mmegi investigations this week indicate that despite a breathless race by organisers to put together an unforgettable ceremony, several key components are failing to come together, throwing the showpiece’s success into jeopardy.
From jostling over financial terms, to the retention of dancers, each of the six days remaining until Botswana’s biggest sporting event could feel like the ticks of a time-bomb for organisers of the opening and closing ceremonies.
This week, Mmegi established that rehearsals for the opening ceremony only started on Tuesday evening, giving the crew of performers – led by South African celebrity and choreographer, Somizi Mhlongo – less than 10 days to perfect their act.
On Tuesday, 50 dancers rehearsed at the Lady Masire Hall in Gaborone West, being their first together as a set. A Mmegi news crew that visited on Wednesday was met by painters at work in Gaborone West, with the dance crew later found at the University of Botswana Student Hall.
The 50 dancers, who are the main act, were due to be joined by another 100 on Thursday evening who will play a supporting role on the day of the ceremony.
“Coordinating a dance piece of 150 is no joke especially in a short span of time,” said a source close to the preparations.
“Somizi’s work speaks volumes on its own but whether he will pull it off on Thursday still remains to be seen.” Somizi’s work has been worsened by a pay dispute among the dancers who reportedly marched to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture last week demanding an increase on the proposed stipends for the ceremony.
Mmegi is informed that the dancers are unimpressed by the P600 each will receive for the opening and closing ceremonies, given the millions sponsors are pouring into the Games.
Andrew Kola of Mophato Dance Theatre, who sourced the dancers on behalf of local event organisers, Dialogue Saatchi and Saatchi, acknowledged unhappiness among the dancers on the issue of remuneration.
In an interview, Kola said, just like other forms of income, dancing is a job that some people use for survival.
“The money paid to the dancers is not enough looking at the time and the effort that they are putting into practising for both the opening and closing ceremony,” he said.
“We will be showcasing good work but the money is too little. We are sure to give value for money.
“I tried to talk to the relevant people about the issue but nothing has changed.”
Kola also highlighted another concern circling around the preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies. He said there were issues of trust and faith in local organisers engaging Batswana for major events.
“This will cripple any chance the arts have to succeed,” he said.
“We always do events, but when something big comes, we are pushed aside. I am disheartened by the lack of faith and trust that seems to be the norm in Botswana.
“Batswana should support and elevate each other because no one will come from outside to do that.”
The Botswana Africa Youth Games Organising Committee (BAYGOC) is paying a South African events management company, VWV, P8 million to stage the opening and closing ceremonies. Choreography for the event has been sourced from South Africa, via Somizi, and make-up people are also due to come in from the regional powerhouse.
BAYGOC CEO, Tuelo Serufho told Mmegi that VWV engages whoever it desires and the Committee has no say over the decisions.Serufho said the agreement with VWV has three key factors being that they must deliver a good quality product, spend 60 percent of the project funding in Botswana and also engage Batswana in all activities.
Asked about the preparations, Serufho said that he is happy with the progress. He said VWV briefed the Committee on Wednesday and everything was going according to plan.