The AUSC Region 5 under 20 Youth Games 8th edition was launched  in Gaborone, Botswana under the revamped brand name; Region 5 Youth Games, Gaborone 2018.

The Minister of Youth Empowerment Sport and Culture Development of Botswana, Honorable Thapelo Olopeng officially launched the games by unveiling the games logo and other symbols and announcing the appointed local organising committee (LOC) members. As part of the tradition when announcing the LOC, the minister dressed the members with the games branded jacket as a sign of bestowing the responsibility upon them to deliver the games on his behalf as the authority of sport in the land.

Also in attendance was the Minister of sports of the Kingdom of Lesotho together with the AUSC Region 5 Deputy Chairman, Mr George Jana.

The launch was attended by a number of stakeholders in Botswana and representatives of the diplomatic core of the region. Members of the business community and civil society were also in attendance and the minister appealed to them to support the government by partnering through sponsorship.

The Minister pronounced the games open and asked the local organising committee members to work tirelessly to ensure these games are a success. The minister said “I now officially pronounce the Region 5 Youth Games, Gaborone 2018 games launched and opened. This means I expect the LOC to work hard to realize the dream of Botswana to stage the most memorable games in the history of the region. My office will remain open to support the LOC in whatever they will need to ensure this country succeeds in the national important project”

The games are at its 8^th edition and will be hosted in Gaborone, Botswana from the 7^th to the 16^th of December however the games competition schedule has not been finalised as a lot of work is still been done.

These under 20 youth games will be attended by all Region 5 member countries, Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For this edition, volleyball has been added as new sport code. Other sport codes that will be played are Football, Netball, Tennis, Boxing, Judo, Gymnetics, Swimming, Athletics, including athletics for visually impaired and Basketball