The Olympics Glory has landed in Botswana!

13 August 2024
Share this story

Tuesday 13th August 2024

by TPA Watchman

It was a scene from a fairy tale!

Multitudes of Batswana flocked SSKIA, the country’s premiere airport in Gaborone on Tuesday 13th August 2024, some forming a beeline queue along the capital city’s roads, while thousands more waited at the national stadium to welcome Botswana’s Olympics heroes.

A historic feat on August 8th as local athlete, Letsile Tebogo won gold in the 200m finals during the Paris 2024 Olympics in France, was the source of the outpouring of collective joy in the country.

The cherry on top was the silver medals the 4×400 men’s relay team comprising Busang Kebinatshipi, Bayapo Ndori, Anthony Pesela and Letsile Tebogo scooped on Saturday August 10th setting an African record of 2:54.53 seconds to seal a historic Olympics feat for Botswana.

The gold in particular won by running a crazy 19.46 seconds in the 200m dash was Africa’s first and the world’s fifth fastest time ever ran in that category.

The euphoria, pomp and ceremony that attended the athletes’ return home was therefore fitting given they had suddenly catapulted themselves to sporting heroes and thrust the country’s name among the galaxy of sporting nations.

Dressed in the national blue, black and white colours the city erupted into a joyful cacophony. The young and old – foreigners and citizens, all immersed themselves in the nation’s glory, none caring for race affections or any such identity marker!

It was a sight to behold!

The President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, his wife, Mma Atsile, the Sports Minister Tuimiso Macdonald Rakgare, and the entire Cabinet as well as Members of Parliament took the afternoon off to welcome the Botswana Olympics team.

Screams and shouts of joy accompanied the team as they rode atop a bus specifically ordered to ferry them to the stadium.

Waving and gesturing to the mesmerised crowds lined along the capital’s streets, the team soaked into the moment, savouring every count while cameras streamed their epic reception across the width and breadth of the country.

Never had the country witnessed a spectacle of such magnitude. Indeed, the Olympics glory had arrived in Botswana, and Batswana turned up in their droves to become part of history making.

The atmosphere turned electric as the motorcade entered the national stadium and the 30, 000 capacity-strong crowd erupted into song, simultaneously chanting Letsile’s name!

Everyone inside the stadium was instantly transformed – they shouted, yelled, jumped, stomped their feet, clapped, screamed at the top of their voices, took selfies, filmed the entire scene for posterity’s sake.

Indeed, this moment will forever be etched in the annals of the country’s sporting history. A time when Batswana across the political, religious affiliations, social and economic standing or educational background, were united into a single cohesive unit by the prowess of its athletic heroes.

The accompanying rewards for the feat were equally appealing, in-fact, tempting and certainly a motivation for would-be athletes to aspire for greatness.

Minister Rakgare announced that two mansions were ready for Letsile, and a house each for the other silver medallists in the men’s 4×100 metres race! Besides the real estate, these athletes are assured instant wealth from endorsement deals that they will strike with international companies!

It certainly behoves the National Olympic Commission and the National Sports Commission to find suitable financial and legal advisors for the young athletes as they transition into a lap of luxury.

© TPA2024

Last Posts

SADC PF Secretary-General Ms Boemo Sekgoma addresses Joint Sitting

Growing calls for stronger Parliamentary oversight of prisons in Southern Africa

Share this story

Share this storyBy Moses Magadza in Johannesburg, South Africa A joint sitting of five standing committees of the SADC Parliamentary Forum began in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday. The Secretary General of the SADC PF,…

13 August 2024

HSDSP-MEMBERS

SADC PF Committee proposes bold  recommendations on prison oversight

Share this story

Share this storyBy Moses Magadza in Johannesburg, South Africa On Wednesday, a one-day meeting of the SADC Parliamentary Forum’s Standing Committee on Human and Social Development and Special Programmes (HSDSP) ended in Johannesburg with strong…

13 August 2024

Delegations of Russia and South Africa led by the two countries' Foreign Ministers, Sergey Lavrov and Ronald Lamola

Russia’s FM, Sergey Lavrov discussed a range of bilateral issues with his South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola

Share this story

Share this storySergey Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia met with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola on April 16. Lamola had arrived in Moscow for the 18th meeting of the…

13 August 2024

President Putin announces Easter ceasefire

President of Russia Vladimir Putin announces Easter ceasefire

Share this story

Share this storyDuring a meeting at the Kremlin with the Chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov President Vladimir Putin declared that the Russian Side is ceasing all military action starting…

13 August 2024

On April 17, 2025, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a telephone conversation

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has a phone conversation with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio

Share this story

Share this storyOn April 17, 2025, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a telephone conversation. Secretary Rubio, who is currently in Paris, informed the Russian side…

13 August 2024

In the first installment of the Two Shores Dialogue series, two journalists — Ma Jiaying from China and Héribert Adjovi from Africa — exchange insights on the pressing issues of our time: rising trade protectionism, the shifting global order, and the long-term consequences of tariff wars. Reflecting on the legacy of the Bandung Conference, they advocate for renewed solidarity among the Global South, grounded in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. A powerful, thoughtful dialogue that bridges continents and visions.

Beyond the tariff crisis, it’s time to take a fair look at globalisation… 70 years after the Bandung Conference

Share this story

Share this story‘A LOOK FROM BOTH SIDES’ is first and foremost an interesting Dialogue between two Friends, two eminent Journalists and a crossed vision of two media professionals, one Chinese and the other African (Beninese)…

13 August 2024

Related Stories