Olopeng slams Rio performance critics
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday August 26, 2016 14:42
Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) president, Negroes Kgosietsile equally condemned some members of the public who berated the team for failing to win a medal.
The two made their remarks at the welcome lunch held for ‘Dynamic 12’ at Avani hotel in Gaborone on Wednesday.
Olopeng said the country’s leadership is proud of the performance of the team.
He said criticism is allowed as long as it is positive. “I urge you to ignore negative criticism from some members of the public. We should now shelve Rio and focus on Tokyo 2020. I will handle the social media criticism,” he said.
Olopeng argued that had it not been for the injuries, the team would have brought a gold medal especially the 4x400m relay. Olopeng said there should be more sporting codes representing the country in Tokyo.
For his part, Kgosietsile said the team did well at the Olympic games despite the criticism that followed at home. He said as sports leadership, they would only welcome positive criticism.
“We have seen in the media people criticising the team. They have even gone to the extent of giving one of our sponsor bad publicity. We cannot accept that. We want someone who wants to invest in development,” he said. Kgosietsile said the focus should now be on the upcoming games. He said the nation should work together and prepare for Tokyo 2020 games. Kgosietsile said more codes should represent the country at the next games, after athletics (nine) dominated the 12-member team.
BNOC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said he appreciated the government support after funds for Olympic preparations were released a year before the games.
He said the time was now for the country to start preparing for Tokyo.
He said the government should release funding for the preparations of the next Olympics when there is enough time like other countries do. He said it is advisable to prepare for Olympics four years before.
He said the private sector must also come on board and assist in preparations.