GIM, BAA key partners in athletics growth

Naledi Lemogang | Wednesday November 29, 2017 16:17

The GIM Local Organising Committee (LOC) is not leaving any stone unturned as it prepares for the next international meet on April 28.

The GIM is the brainchild of Sports View Runners’ Club, an affiliate of the BAA.

LOC general manager, Kitso Kemoeng said the BAA has played a big role in linking them up with the general athletics community at both local and international levels. 

He said it is through the local athletics body that they have been able to break through the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) and its regional structure, Southern Region CAA.

“We were recently a subject of a Southern Region CAA agenda at its meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. They have duly embraced us in their calendar of activities, and sees in us an opportunity for the BAA to beef up its activities and even expand its annual calendar of activities,” Kemoeng told a press briefing yesterday.

 “They have even suggested an increase in the number and quality of international stars targeted for the Meet.  We are working very closely with the BAA and the Southern Region CAA to meet the requirements,” he added.

 Kemoeng said through the CAA, they are also in touch with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to invite all the stakeholders to the 2018 competition to be held in Gaborone.

 He further stated that they have compiled a competition manual to guide them with all the technical requirements for the Meet, including a composite set of rules and regulations and shared it with the CAA for their technical input and the necessary approvals.

Kemoeng said they are in the process of identifying 10 high level International Technical Officials (ITO) or Area Technical Officials (ATO) for the Meet, with one each already identified from Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

“The competition will generally continue to attract international athletes who may wish to come, as part of our strategy, we will invite some special international athletes as guests, at our cost; depending on the budget,” he said.

He said they are targeting five international athletes for invitation as guests.

 BAA president, Moses Bantsi said they are committed to seeing the project make huge changes in Southern African athletics.

He said they would continue to work hand-in-hand to ensure that Africa hosts biggest international athletics competitions similar to Diamond League.

“We want to see top athletes coming to Botswana to compete as well as our African rising stars,” he said.

Bantsi urged the LOC to invite at least 50% women to their events. 

Meanwhile, the GIM has launched their official website which will avail all the detailed information about their upcoming event.