It is a positive step towards closing the gender gap, particularly in sports where the divide has traditionally been wide. Retaining women and girls in sport has always been a mammoth task, particularly after their school or tertiary education years. Talent has gone down the drain because of cultural and societal barriers that push women towards predefined gender roles.
The case in point is Magedeline Moyengwa, a former top-ranked weightlifter in Africa, who disappeared into oblivion because of cultural practices. Today, Botswana marks an important milestone in its pursuit of gender equity in sport as six athletes depart for Dakar to represent the country at the first Youth Olympic Games to be held on African soil. Four females make up the team, accounting for 66% of the contingent. This could be a first for Botswana, as its teams have largely been dominated by males. Speaking at the team's send-off in Gaborone on Monday, Botswana National Sport Commission chairperson, Tshepo Sitale described the composition as a positive step towards gender equity.
