BOTSWANA on Tuesday enjoyed a half-day holiday to welcome its athletes following a stellar performance at the 2024 Olympic Games that ended in Paris, France, on Sunday.
The Botswana Olympic team got a rapturous welcome at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport where it was met by the country’s top leadership that included President Mokgweetsi Masisi and senior government officials, and family members and supporters.
The convoy left the airport for the stadium where thousands of supporters were gathered, ready to fete their stars.
Their poster boy for the Olympics team was sprinter Letsile Tebogo who stunned favourite Noah Lyles in the 200m final last week. He also steered the 4x400m relay team to silver in the final.
Tuesday’s holiday was the second that Masisi has granted Motswanas in barely a week.
The country of about 2,3 million people had a half-day holiday on Friday last week, a day after Tebogo had etched his name in the history books by winning gold in the 200m final, becoming the first African to do so.
Tebogo will receive two houses from government. Members of the 4x400m relay team will get houses while other members of the team who did not win medals have been assured that they will not go home empty-handed.
The Botswana government has asked citizens to make contributions to appreciate the Olympics team.
- Lessons from Botswana
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Botswana is offering Zimbabwe some valuable lessons on how to treat sporting heroes. We should learn to celebrate our athletes, no matter the results.
For Zimbabwe, Olympic debutants Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba exceeded expectations by storming into the 200m final.
The last Zimbabwean to qualify for the 200m finals was Brian Dzingai who narrowly missed a medal at the Beijing Olympics 16 years ago.
Another Olympics debutant marathoner Isaac Mpofu came 19th in a field of 80 athletes.
Government was supposed to organise a homecoming for the athletes and host a State banquet to celebrate their achievements.
This is no longer possible as the athletes have flown back to their bases with Charamba already in the United States.
We are not good at celebrating our heroes. Last month, the Sables returned as Africa champions to a muted welcome where only family members and officials from the Zimbabwe Rugby Union were at the Robert Mugabe International Airport.
There were no officials from government and the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).
The champions were only celebrated by government on X, (formerly Twitter) — President Emmerson Mnangagwa and SRC.
The snub by government has irked neutrals, with cleric Walter Magaya pledging to host a dinner for the Sables. Where is the Sports ministry?
Minister Kirsty Coventry was engrossed in Olympics business and we expected senior ministry officials to take the lead so that our athletes are given the reception they deserved.
Appreciating our sportsperson motivates others to go an extra mile. Zimbabwe is going through a tough economic times and a crackdown on pro-democracy activists has grabbed international headlines.
Appreciating our sportspeople will go a long way in galvanising people around patriotism and unity.
