OPINION:BOTSWANA SPORTS SECTOR,AN UNDERUTILIZED DYNAMITE
Botswana like many other countries always look for ways to diversify her economy, with that in mind, there are lot of sectors that have long overlooked although they have utmost potential to revive our dying economy. Our sports sector if given enough chance through resources and capital injection, this could lead to wonders in our GDP.
SPORTS SECTOR DESERVES PRIORITY
Botswana Sports is still perceived as a co-curricular activity from primary school level which goes to affect the commercialization at the elite stage, this factor makes it difficult to foresee its positive impact it could bring if efficiently nurtured, high unemployment rate which Statistics Botswana reported it to be close to 21% that we face will be a thing of the past.
In United Kingdom alone, sports significant bearing on the country’s GDP is a wholesome contribution of 39 billion Pounds in earnings annually and employs over 987 000 people. Similarly to United States of America in which sports account to roughly 14.3 billion in direct earnings with an average of 39 000 dollars per job of around 456 000 jobs. In our case referencing from our low population, this transformation our private sector greatly, doctors, dietitian, catering services, psychologists will all be involved because without them sports is not complete.
SPORTS TOURISM IS GREAT FOR GROWTH
Another element of consideration is the sports tourism, countries are tapping into this market because it’s the future and one thing that asserts sports sector from others like mining is that it’s sustainable unlike diamonds that could perish any day soon.
Our Northern part is rich with natural resources’ that needs strategic thinking for utilization, world class facilities could be built in areas like Maun, Chobe and Okavango region where international events such as World Conferences, World cups or racing events will take place thus attracting foreign direct investment.
SPAIN IS WINNING IN SPORTS SECTOR
Spain is a testimony of the above statement as they greatly invested in sports sector for the last 15 years and winning the world cup in 2010 was the beginning of fortunes, more than 12 000 million Euros is being generated through sports tourism from their sports activities being a Barcelona Marathon, Tennis Madrid and Barcelona Opens, Spanish Grand Prix and the most watched club football match, the El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
This numbers are a clear testament that Botswana is still living in the past in terms of economic revolution and the will to alleviate and improve its citizen’s lives for the better.it does not require rocket science to implement such initiatives if one has the people’s best interests at heart. Our budget for the fiscal year 2020-21 has already been allocated and it’s still a case of the past.
SPORTS HELPS KEEP HEALTHY
Sports is not only about games played over the weekend, growing sports is improving the literacy in our physical education, cheap and reliable workout facilities could be availed countrywide for general public to promote public health, lifestyle diseases like obesity which is a national concern may be well addressed if we go into this route.
BOTSWANA SHOULD HAVE A SPORTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Development is the key to success in any element, in sports its very critical and it’s a must-do objective, if our leadership continue in this route of shortcuts nothing will ever change. From primary school level sports should be part of the curriculum not a co-curricular activity where they go for leisure but for career building, in many countries like Brazil, an 8 year old boy who shows potential in football is nurtured with the right skills until they become Neymar`s of this world.
Let’s invest in sports development for assurance on our future.
BY:Tirelo Mosielele[BA(HONS) IN BROADCASTING AND JOURNALISM/CO FOUNDER OF SPORTSNATION]
