US, Jamaica stars absent, but the show rumbles on

Botswana’s 4x400m team stunned the world at last year’s World Championships in Japan, picking gold ahead of the United States. At the same competition, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi became the world 400m champion. The hosts are favoured to defend their World Relays title which they won in Bahamas two years ago.

In Bahamas, South Africa won silver whilst Belgium finished third as Kebinatshipi, Letsile Tebogo, Leungo Scotch, and Bayapo Ndori powered Botswana to gold. Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do.

The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door…