Let's wish for successful Games
Thuso Palai | Wednesday May 21, 2014 10:39
The Local Organising Committee has relatively well in preparing for the games, and to a large extent there has been positives than negatives. Although there has been some rather disturbing incidences in the lead up to the Games, I am confident that we will host a successful games. As with any major event, there is bound to be one or two shortcomings, but on the whole it looks like most of the bases have been covered. I have been rather disappointed that most of the coverage and attention that the Games has had has been negative.
This has been so much that last week when I met with someone from outside the country who is here for the Games, he actually asked what ‘we’ have against the Games. I had no answer. It is well and good to point out the shortcomings, but most of the commentary on the Games has been rather negative and this can have a negative impact on the Games. The successful hosting of the Games can either make or break us as a country and can either enhance or harm our chances of hosting more international sporting events. My hope is that we will host successful Games and enhance our chances of hosting more and bigger events. That we host successful Games is also dependent on the support that each and every Motswana puts forth.
The Games will present an opportunity for us to show Africa, and indeed the World what we are all about and what we are capable of. From the moment the guests enter Botswana at the points of entry, that’s where the hospitality should start. We all have a role to play in the GAMES, and it is not only the LOC that has role. The taxi man, the street vendor, the gentlemen at the bank, the security officer at the venue, basically everyone of us has a role. The success of the Games will not be judged only by what happen at the different event venues but by the overall welcome that we give the visitors; hence we should appreciate our roles.
On the field of play, we will get an indication of how we are doing in terms of development. This is an opportune time for the different sporting codes to gauge their progress and in the process improve for the better. This is the time for us to identify future Dipsy Selolwanes, Amantle Montshos, Oteng Otengs, Allister Walkers and the like. This is the time for us to identify future stars who will represent Botswana at the highest level. This is the time for us to identify and capacitate officials and administrators. And hopefully we will cash in and capacitate able personnel who we will use in future such events. We need to gain something on and off the field and have a lasting legacy.
There are just under 200 TeamBW members who will participate in the 21 sporting codes. Last I heard, we were gunning for 30 medals, and I’m confident that we will achieve that feat, moreso that we have home ground advantage. There are some not so familiar codes that we will be participating in like canoeing and canoeing that we will be taking part in, and for me that will the most interesting codes to watch.
Botswana will in September host the COSAFA Cup Championships and the expectation is that this event will be some kind of a yard stick whether we are indeed ready for such events. Sport will once again bring us together and we should have to support the organisers, and critique instead of criticise. As for TeamBW; the sky is the limit.