Some members left yesterday for a pre-camp ahead of the games while other athletes, Letsile Tebogo, Collen Kebinatshipi, and Anthony Pesela are already in Europe competing in the Diamond League and Continental Tour Meets. The team comprises 14 members from athletics and swimming. Two swimmers, Maxine Egner, and Adrian Robinson qualified for the Olympics after receiving wild cards. Botswana will be making its 12th appearance at the Summer Olympic Games. The country won its first medal at the games through Nijel Amos' silver during the London 2012 Games. Three years ago in Tokyo, the 4x400m relay team delivered the second medal, a bronze.
Speaking during the team's send-off ceremony on Wednesday, the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) senior vice-president, Tshepo Sitale, said for the first time, they are sending three athletes to compete in the 800m, including the first female, Oratile Nowe. “For the first time after 44 years, the NOC has a kit sponsor, Diadora and the value of the sponsorship is P1.3 million, which means they supply us for the next two years. It has a cash value of €35,000 (P515,000) per year for the next three years. It is the first time that we are going to outshine any medal tally we have had before,” he said. For his part, the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture (MYSC), Tumiso Rakgare, said the journey towards preparing the Olympic team did not start yesterday. He said in the quest to remain forward-thinking, the government has been intentional in its dedication towards sport. “The government is in the process of developing the sport and creative sector strategy.
