Gaborone's turn to host Region 5 Games
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday December 7, 2018 13:02
The games have been running since the first ones held in Mozambique in 2004. The AUSC Council of Ministers adopted a Five Year Development Plan at their November 23, 1997 meeting in Cabinda, Angola. One of the Projects in the Development Plan was the organisation and hosting of AUSC Region 5/SADC Games for the Under-20 age group on a biennial basis.
At their Special Meeting of September 7, 1999 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the AUSC Region 5 Council of Ministers agreed that the hosting of the Games shall be compulsory and rotational, and shall be the basis of the chairmanship of the council of ministers. Thus the country whose minister is the chairperson of the AUSC Region 5 council of ministers shall host the Games.
The last edition of the Games was hosted in Angola. Botswana was then tasked with organising the 2018 games. The LOC chairperson, Labbeaus Peloewetse said they have upgraded and refurbished three venues of the nine that would be used for the competition.
“We have installed new touch pads at the UB swimming pool. The Region 5 Youth Games would be used as qualifier for FINA world championship in Gwagnju 2019,” he said.
The National Stadium athletics track, long jump runway and pit have been renovated according to IAAF standards. Peloewetse said they have applied for IAAF certification and the certificate is expected next year. The LOC has also resurfaced seven courts at Notwane courts.
Previous editions:
1st edition 2004 Mozambique inaugural
2nd edition 2006 Namibia
3rd edition 2008 South Africa
4th edition 2010 eSwatini
5th edition 2012 Zambia
6th edition 2014 Zimbabwe
7th edition 2016 Angola
8th edition 2018 Botswana
About the hosts
Botswana: Population: 2 million
Last appearance: Position two in 2016. The team brought home 34 medals, 14 gold, 14 silver and six bronze.
Number of athletes: 215.
Competing codes: athletics (incl. visually impaired), basketball,
boxing, football, judo, netball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.
The defending champions
South Africa: Population: 57.7 million.
Last appearance: Angola 2016.
Number of the team: 220 athletes
Competing codes: athletics (incl. visually impaired), basketball,
boxing, football, judo, netball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.
Competition venues
UB aquatic centre: swimming
The National Stadium: athletics
UB Indoor Sport Centre: netball
Notwane tennis courts: Tennis
Boipuso hall: boxing
Ditshupo hall: volleyball
Lekidi 1 and 2 pitches: football
Molapo Piazza: basketball