6 days agoNational Stadium eyes world athletics approval

As preparations near completion for the historic World Athletics Relays set for May, the National Stadium stands on the cusp of a significant milestone, awaiting official certification from World Athletics. Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Jacob Kelebeng addressed Parliament this week, confirming that renovations on the stadium’s athletics track, the centerpiece for the global event scheduled for May 2–3, have been finalized. The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) now awaits formal approval from the sport’s governing body to give the venue the green light.

“The renovation of the athletics track, which is the designated competition venue, has been completed, including the replacement of the running surface. The facility is now awaiting certification by World Athletics,” Minister Kelebeng stated. The refurbishment entailed replacing the stadium’s running surface to meet stringent international competition standards, a critical step in positioning Botswana as a host on the world athletics stage.

Beyond the track itself, a series of maintenance and upgrades are underway to prepare the stadium for its moment in the international spotlight. These include repainting spectator seating, expanding VIP restroom facilities, refreshing the exterior façade, and implementing comprehensive electrical enhancements throughout the venue. According to Kelebeng, these efforts are progressing steadily and are expected to conclude by April 11, leaving ample time before the event’s kickoff.

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Regarding the University of Botswana’s facilities, anticipated to serve as the warm-up site for athletes, Kelebeng indicated that preparations are on track for completion by the end of March. The World Athletics Relays will assemble elite sprinters and relay teams from around the globe, serving as a crucial qualifier for major championships. Hosting such a prestigious event offers Botswana a rare platform to highlight its rising prominence in international athletics, building on the success of its sprint stars on the global stage.

Yet, while the stadium’s athletics capabilities advance, challenges remain in meeting international football standards. Kelebeng revealed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to accredit the National Stadium for Category 3 football matches, barring it from hosting certain high-profile continental fixtures. “The main issues relate to the location and configuration of the dressing rooms, which must be relocated to the Grandstand side, as per CAF standards,” the minister explained.

CAF’s Category 3 accreditation demands a series of infrastructure upgrades beyond dressing room adjustments. These include constructing a dedicated media box with suitable workstations, installing an electronic ticketing system, equipping doping control and medical rooms to international standards, and establishing a video operations center for stadium security monitoring. These requirements reflect continental best practices designed to enhance safety, professionalism, and broadcast quality during international matches.

Minister Kelebeng reassured lawmakers of the government’s commitment to resolving these infrastructure gaps. “We are working to ensure that these irregularities are addressed so that our clubs can host continental matches without incurring avoidable extra costs,” he said. Currently, the absence of CAF accreditation forces Botswana’s premier league clubs, particularly those in the southern region, to hold continental fixtures in Francistown at Obed Chilume Stadium, imposing additional logistical and financial strain. Addressing these shortcomings will allow local teams to compete on home turf, a development Kelebeng emphasized as vital for the growth and sustainability of football in Botswana.

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