Olympics bid was ill-timed

Botswana lost out to Senegal in a four-horse race to host the first ever Youth Olympic Games in Africa. In a candid interview yesterday, BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng said the bid’s timing was wrong.

“The President (Mokgweetsi Masisi) has made it clear that hosting can accelerate development and that we must be a hosting nation. However, I think the (Youth Games) bid came at a wrong time,” Reikeletseng said.  “Firstly, everyone was tight-fisted and, secondly, there was a change in leadership. The third aspect is that there was Bulela Ditswe where ministers were busy with campaigns fighting for their political survival, and the bid issue became secondary,” he added.