Rousing welcome expected for Gold Coast heroes
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday April 17, 2018 17:12
Although the team fell short of the target by three medals, it was still the best performance since the country's debut appearance in 1974, surpassing the four won in New Delhi in 2010.
The team touches down at Sir Seretse Khama International airport just before 9am tomorrow morning.
Eyes will be on the athletics team which won all five medals, with Isaac Makwala bagging two golds, the other coming from the 4x400m men's team.
Amantle Montsho won gold medal to go with the bronze that she received for anchoring the 4x400m women's team to third place. Baboloki Thebe won silver after coming second to Makwala in the 400m finals.
Karabo Sibanda and Nijel Amos returned empty handed both suffering injuries. Sibanda ended his competition during the 400m heats and Amos finished last position in the 800m race, and later complained of a calf injury.
Tomorrow's program kicks off with a meet and greet session between Cabinet and the team inside the VVIP area at the airport. The public will also have an opportunity to meet the team before it leaves the airport.
A motorcade will then proceed to Mma Masire ground in G-West before a welcome dinner at the Gaborone International Convention Center (GICC) in the evening. Vice president, Slumber Tsogwane will be the guest speaker at the dinner.
Meanwhile, Mmegi Sport is informed that allowances for the athletes are expected within seven days. Gold medal winners pocket P100,000, while P75,000 goes to silver medal winners and bronze has a P50,000 prize.
“The procedure is that a report which indicates the results from the Commonwealth should be submitted to the Ministry. Payments can only be done after the report has been received,” a sports ministry official said.