admingames burst into life at Danhiko and Greeengrove Primary School today with 2 250 athletes expected to battle it out in athletics, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, swimming, soccer, netball and goal ball.
Chairman for the organising committee, Godfrey Majonga, said they were happy to have athletes from Botswana coming for the event.
“Botswana is bringing a team of 34 athletes and 11 officials who will participate in the sport for the physically disabled as well as sport for the blind.
“They will take part in the goal ball and track and field events.
“About six or seven years ago we had participants from Botswana but in recent years they had stopped coming for various reasons.
“We are delighted because in the past we had athletes from one club but this time they are coming from the Paralympics Association of Botswana and they have been selected from different clubs,” said Majonga.
Majonga, who is also the deputy director for Danhiko, said they were happy with the growth they have witnessed over the years.
“We are already excited, teams have already started arriving and we expect all the teams to have arrived by this evening (yesterday).
“The games will start tomorrow (today) and will run till Sunday,” said Majonga.
Majonga said they had to increase the number of days for the tournament because of the overwhelming response they have been getting from clubs.
“This is a response to the growing interest. Last year we had 81 clubs that attended with 1 800 participants and this year we have 106 clubs that are coming with 2 250 participants and we needed to accommodate those athletes. Some of the clubs are coming for the first time while others have been coming year in year out and for the newcomers we expect tough competition against those that have competing over the years,” said Majonga.
Online Reporter