Vol 66 April-June 2026 : Sports

The National Stadium, Gaborone, September 29, 1966. Minutes before midnight, a military parade is displayed by visiting honour guard, the Lancashire Fusiliers, a line infantry regiment of the British army accompanying Princess Marina, royal representative of her cousin, British monarch Queen Elizabeth, as the United Kingdom winds down eight decades of protectorate rule over Bechuanaland.

This all culminates at the stroke of midnight, with the lowering of the British flag, the Union Jack, to the singing of their anthem, ‘God Save the Queen,’ and the hoisting of the Botswana flag, to the tune of ‘Fatshe Leno La Rona,’ as Botswana became an independent republic during the first seconds of September 30.

At the very same venue nigh on six decades later, the blue, black and white national flag was waved with pride, by Batswana in a spirit of national euphoria as the Botswana national relay athletics team enthralled the nation in the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 games.

 The National Stadium, since September 1966 a symbol of Botswana’s independence and national pride, saw Collen Kebinatshipi sprint home, having received the baton from Lee Eppie, Letsile Tebogo and Bayapo Ndori, to win the 4 x 4 relay men’s gold.

A carnival atmosphere engulfed the nation. President Advocate Duma Boko, former presidents Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama and Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, governing party and opposition politicians as well as Batswana from across the social and cultural divide united in song.

The ultimate domestic sport anthem, Dr Vom’s Tsaya Thobane was amplified in the stadium public address sound system and the crowd, packed to the rafters, rose and sung in unison.

A total of 723 athletes from 40 countries had participated in the games, including Botswana, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana from Africa, the United States of America, Canada Jamaica, Brazil and the Bahamas from the Americas, Great Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands from Europe, Australia, China, Japan and India from the Asia-Pacific, among others.

The influx of visiting athletes, technical staff officials and media helped boost the local economy. 

Gaborone cab driver, Lucas Mpinyane says hosting the relays provided an economic stimulus to the city informal sector.

 “This not just lifted the national mood,” Mpinyane says. “It helped us generate income at a time when we’ve been receiving less business. I’m normally based at the one of the local hotels, where I often assist local and foreign guests travel around town. We had athletes, their coaches and officials staying there and they utilised our services to move around town.”

 He adds that the visitors he handled from Latin American countries Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Chile asked to be shown around town and to sample traditional Setswana cuisine.

Mpinyane shuttled them on trips to places such as Airport Junction, Mokolodi Nature Reserve and the Botswana Craft.

 “The games were highly beneficial to us, they were an economic boost. The success of our team on the track was an added bonus,” Mpinyane relates.

The 120 medals awarded to winners were encrusted with natural diamonds mined in Botswana and crafted by Batswana artisans in honor of the country’s 60th anniversary of independence, the diamond jubilee.

Among the gold medal winners, were the United States in the men’s 4x100m, Jamaica in the women’s 4x100m and Norway in women’s 4x400m and Botswana’s 4x400m triumph before an ecstatic local crowd.

Athletes used the relays to qualify for the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championships scheduled for Budapest in September 11-13 this year and next year’s World Athletics Championships Beijing 2027. ENDS

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