SATO Games Stimulate Gabz Economy
Correspondent | Monday September 4, 2017 16:20
The city’s economic activities were stimulated by the event that attracted nine countries from the region.
According to the host organiser, Nonofo Lesole, the BTU arts & sports secretary, the SATO games saw Oasis Motel in Tlokweng, the Big Five Lodge in Mogoditshane, Aquarian Tide Hotel, and Ave Maria at Game City all fully booked for the duration of the regional event whose programme included the meeting of the council to deliberate on regional education issues and the way forward, followed by the friendly games and cultural night and dinner.
According to the BTU legal advisor Neo Mpofu over one million went into accommodation alone.
BTU fielded some 160 athletes, not including officials, and members of its cultural troupe and the BTU band.
According to the arts & sports secretary over P350,000 alone went into the cultural night.
He said the games afforded the teachers a rare opportunity to relax and share ideas outside the classrooms with their own kind from across the region.
As expected, the host country was the overall winner as they took first prizes in women’s football, men and women’s volleyball, men’s basketball.
Lesole says prior to the games the BTU hosted eliminations in Francistown to offer the members the chance to qualify.
Meanwhile, as Lesotho has indicated that they would not be able to host the games next year, Zimbabwe indicated they will be ready to host them in Harare.
“As the host organiser, I’m very proud to have hosted such a huge event successfully. We also used a state-of-the-art sporting facility in Mogoditshane sporting complex, which has been under refurbishment,”, said an elated Lesole