adminGaborone, capital city of Botswana.
Apart from the two dignitaries above, the heavily attended ceremony, which was aired live on national television in Botswana, was also graced by eminent personalities such as the country’s Vice-President Ponatshego Kedikilwe, Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) president Negroes Kgosietsile and the Mayor of Gaborone Haskins Nkaigwa.
A number of speeches were delivered on this occasion, foremost among them that of the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Kgathi, who pointed out that it had been a long and strenuous journey began in 2011, when the idea was first mooted for Botswana to host the second edition of the African Youth Games.
This was followed up on August 2, 2012 at the London 2012 Olympic Games’ Africa Village, where Botswana’s delegation to the Games officially presented their bid to African Olympic Movement officials.
When BNOC president, Kgosietsile, took the floor, he thanked Anoca for recognising their country’s potential to host the 2014 African Youth jamboree.
Anoca president, Palenfo, on his part underscored that, “Youths from 53 countries will be in your country not only to compete, but also to learn from one another. Lifelong friendships will most certainly be struck up, which will leave indelible memories . . . You have risen to the challenge and our hope is that these Games will be games of innovation, creativity, joy of effort and the dissemination of Olympic values.”
The African Youth Games are a quadrennial event which was first initiated by Anoca during the 2009-2012 Olympiad and are meant for youths aged less than 18.
The maiden edition was hosted in Rabat, Morocco, from July 13 to 18, 2010.
Also worthy of note is the fact that the chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Regina Vaka, the Mayor of Gaborone Nkaigwa, Anoca president Palenfo and BNOC president Kgosietsile, each planted a tree to commemorate what could be termed the beginning of the road for Gaborone 2014, which has 14 sports discipline on schedule. The
Local Organising Committee known as the Botswana African Youth Games Organising Committee (BAYGOC) was also unveiled on this occasion and they are responsible for successful delivery of this second edition of the youth spectacle.
Botswana has in the past played host to some international sports events, namely: the African Cadet Cup in 1997, the Athens 2004 qualifying boxing tournament and the Junior African Athletics Championships in 2011.
Online Reporter