BNOC incorporates culture in Queen's Baton Relays

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Friday January 22, 2010 00:00

The baton will be in Botswana for the second time next Monday for four days. On the first night, the baton will be at the Gaborone Sun where a reception will be held to welcome it and its bearers.

The baton will begin its relay in Botswana on Tuesday at Taung and unlike 2005 when it was around, it will leave Gaborone with the first being Ramotswa where the main celebration is expected to commence. For the first time the baton will travel in a donkey cart - from Taung to Ramotswa.

Steve Bothasitse, chairman of the BNOC Local Organising Committee (LOC) said they have decided to incorporate culture in the relay because it is a trend that most countries have adopted as a way of honouring the baton. He said that incorporating culture in the event will help in showcasing Botswana's way of life to the rest of the world. Bothasitse said that during the main event which is scheduled to take place on January 26, cultural presentations from local poets and musicians will complement the day's theme.

The relay set course two months ago in Buckingham Palace, London and is expected to pass through 70 countries that make the Commonwealth Nations before its final destination in New Delhi, India in October.

Bothasitse said the baton is a symbol of unity among Commonwealth member states and serves as a reminder to them to get prepared in time and confirm their participation in the games.

The relay will be led by some of Botswana's elite and best performing sportspeople like former boxer Khumiso Ikgopoleng and Olympians Glody Dube and Tshotlego Morama.

'People chosen to lead the relay are people who have taken part in the games and thus this is a way we can show them our appreciation,' Bothasitse said.

A cricket festival will be held at the Gaborone Cricket Club on Wednesday for the closing ceremony prior to the baton's departure on Thursday. The festival will involve children from government primary schools. Bothasitse said they decided to close the ceremony with a game of cricket to recognise the presence of Indians in Botswana as the Commonwealth Games will be held in their country this year. 'We chose cricket as it is the most common sport for Indians and we knew this was a way of engaging as many Indians locally as possible,' he said.