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Gaborone \u2014 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) has confirmed that Botswana will host the 25th African Senior Athletics Championships in 2028, marking a historic first for the country.<\/p>\n
The hosting rights were initially awarded in 2024, prompting Botswana Athletics Association to present its readiness case before the CAA council in Accra, Ghana on May 11.<\/p>\n
BAA acting president Oabona Theetso said the association delivered a compelling presentation that reassured the council of Botswana’s preparedness to stage the continental showpiece.<\/p>\n
\n He said they were happy that CAA found it fit to give Botswana the opportunity to host the championships back in 2024.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “As Botswana, it will be our first time to host the African Senior Championship, therefore we are not going to drop the ball,” he said.<\/p>\n The last time the championships were staged in Southern Africa was in 2016 in Durban, South Africa.<\/p>\n Theetso said Botswana would build on the blueprint established during the successful hosting of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26.<\/p>\n “A lot of lessons will be drawn from what we have just witnessed in terms of hosting such a successful international competition,” he said.<\/p>\n He noted that 2028 would be a demanding year on the athletics calendar, with the World Relays in Bahamas serving as qualifiers for the Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles, United States.<\/p>\n According to Theetso, the African Senior Athletics Championships would also serve as a qualifying platform for both the World Relays and the Olympics, although dates for the competition were yet to be finalised.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Theetso revealed that Botswana intended to use the country’s celebrated men’s 4×400 metres relay team as ambassadors for the championships.<\/p>\n “It is not just about hosting, but also about promoting our country through sport and showcasing our rich culture and heritage,” he added.<\/p>\n The Acting President said their intention was to put their best foot forward, and by the end of the year they would have already establish a Local Organising Committee to hit the ground running.<\/p>\n Following the widely praised staging of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26, Theetso acknowledged that expectations would now be higher.<\/p>\n He said the world would be watching to see whether it was just a fluke, therefore it is important that they maintain the standard.<\/p>\n He added that the association would work closely with government and the corporate sector to define roles and partnerships necessary for delivering a successful championship.<\/p>\n
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