GABORONE INTERNATIONAL MEET POSTPONED TO APRIL 2021
BY: Katlego Mechedi
The much anticipated Gaborone International Meet is set to take place next year(2021) on the 24th of April at the National Stadium following the cancellation of this year’s meet due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
TALKING POINTS
- National Stadium meets the international standards
- GIM is a platform for upcoming athletes
- It is also an Olympic qualifying event
- GIM to sell the city of Gaborone
This was said by Gaborone International Meet General Manager, California Molefe when addressing the media during a press conference held at Oasis Motel yesterday.
NATIONAL STADIUM MEETS INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Molefe told the media that the date of the meet is fixed and confirmed, and assured that it is within the calendar of events of the Botswana Athletics Association(BAA) and World Athletics Association(WAA) respectively. He also highlighted that the national stadium is to be used as it is a world certified track.
Moreover, Molefe announced that the event will act as a platform for the upcoming athletes while also affording all a chance to qualify for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
“The meet will prepare the upcoming athletes for better performances in the future by providing a competitive platform for them”, Mr. Molefe said.
He also said that as the host they will be not only looking at qualifying their elite athletes but revealed that they have the upcoming athletes they are grooming, which they want to have a feel of competing at such big events event.
GABORONE INTERNATIONAL MEET TO SELL ATHLETES AND THE CITY
For his part, the GIM Chairperson, Barulaganye Mogotsi said Gaborone Internation Meet’s intention is to perform beyond the given standard which is a bronze level. He envisioned that they intend to meet other levels requirements like silver, gold, and diamond league so as to be a crowd-pulling event selling top athletes and the city of Gaborone.
“We are working towards qualifying the meet to a diamond league”, said Mr. Molefe.
