Slow qualification delays Olympics kit launch

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday February 7, 2020 11:59

 

Trusted ally: Nike has always come to the rescue of the national team

However, for Botswana, it is still a long way off, as the country’s athletes struggle to qualify for the world’s biggest multidiscipline event.

Countries such as Kenya, USA, Nigeria and Brazil launched Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games kits this week.

Only three Botswana athletes Nijel Amos, Galefele Moroko and Christine Botlogetswe have qualified for the Olympics.

The Games Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairperson, Moses Moruisi said the kit launch was still a long way off as the focus is on qualification. 

“There are only three athletes who have qualified for the Olympics and we cannot think about the kit launch at the moment. The focus is on getting more athletes to qualify,” he said. When asked if Botswana would be using Nike kit, Moruisi said the company was acting out of goodwill to dress the team in the past. He said Botswana did not have a contract, but the clothing brand was athletics sponsorship.

Moruisi said they are now looking at other companies to dress Team Botswana.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) president, Paphane Botlhale said their contract with Nike expires after the Olympics.

Botlhale said they are still to engage with BNOC to see if they would be allowed to use Nike merchandise.

“We are still to engage with the BNOC and our sponsor on the kit that would be used.  Normally they (Nike) take over and sponsor the entire team, but we are yet to see what happens. The team should have the same kit. However, in the past we were allowed to use two different sponsors,” he said.