Youth Olympics bid enters decisive stage

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday July 27, 2018 12:39

The country has hinged its hopes on the success of hosting, particularly the 2014 Africa Youth Games, which received overwhelming endorsement.

Four African countries, Botswana, Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal have reached the home stretch in the bidding process. The bidding countries have gone through the first two phases of the process, being the Preparation and Dialogue Stages.

Now, they have entered the final phase, the Candidature Stage, where the International Olympic Committee executive board will decide, which interested parties would be invited to take part in the Candidature Phase, based on the feasibility reports and visits.

Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho told Mmegi Sport that hosting of YOG is part of Vision 2036 that calls for economic diversification through the hosting of international games, conferences and meetings.

“Olympics have never been held in Africa. People in sport, locally and around the continent, have suggested that we explore hosting the YOG 2022,” he said.

Serufho said moving forward, the IOC will drop two countries, and remain with two, which would be deliberated in October.

He said given the size of the YOG, that is 207 countries, approximately 30 sports codes and more than 10, 000 international visitors, the financial investment would be significant.

“The good thing is that the Games would be delivered jointly by the Botswana authorities and the IOC, with the latter covering some of the costs,” he said.

Serufho said most of the money going into the Games would address youth empowerment, employment creation and infrastructure development.

He noted that one good thing is that the benefits of hosting the games far outweigh the costs. He said during the Games, more than P500 million from outside, would have been spent in Botswana.

“There are venues currently under development, by both private and public authorities and those that are about to be built. Notwithstanding, Botswana has most facilities needed for the YOG,” he said.

He added that Botswana would get enormous marketing from the Games because millions of people would be reached.

Following feasibility studies, visits, in-depth discussions, research and analysis that would be undertaken by the IOC and experts with the interested African NOCs, the IOC evaluation commission would submit its report in September.

The winning bid would be announced in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October. The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Kago Ramokate said winning the bid to host the YOG 2022 would bring a lot of positives for the country. He said the Games would come with youth development drive.

“The Games would come with capacity building and empowerment for both the volunteers and sport administrators. Right now we are still benefiting from the Africa Youth Games that we hosted in 2014,” Ramokate said.

He said the YOG would also accelerate infrastructure development. He said Botswana has venues for different sporting code, which should be sufficient to host the Youth Olympics.