REGION 5 MOURNS VICTIMS OF ANGOLA STADIUM TRAGEDY
21st February 2017
AUSC Region 5 congratulates Ahmad Ahmad as CAF President.
21st March 2017
Botswana signed the 2018 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under 20 Youth Games Protocol Agreement today (21 February 2017) in Gaborone. The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Hon. Thapelo Olopeng and the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Chairman Dr. Vetumbuavi Veii signed the Protocol Agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. The signing of this agreement paves way for earnest preparations for the successful hosting of the 8th edition of these biennial Games that are held in all the AUSC Region 5 Member Countries on a rotational basis in alphabetic order. The last Games were held in Luanda, Angola in December 2016. The Region 5 Member States are: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. However, non-Region 5 SADC Member States are invited to participate in the Games.
The AUSC Region 5 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Stanley Mutoya highlighted that one of the primary mandates of the AUSC Region 5 is to encourage, coordinate and promote the development of all forms of sport in the Region. The Games have left notable legacies in the seven Member States that have hosted the past editions most notably in the development of sports infrastructure and human capital.
“We are very excited that Botswana has committed to hosting the 2018 Games. Given the country’s track record and recent history in successfully hosting international events, including the Bots50 Celebrations in 2016, we have no doubt that this country will put its best foot forward and stage the best Games ever,” said Mutoya.
The AUSC Region 5 CEO went on to highlight the four preparation phases for the Games that will guide the LOC and all stakeholders in focusing their attention and concentration. Mutoya mentioned that in phase 1 of the preparation (between March and June 2017), the Region would be assessing Botswana’s capacity to host the Games. The assessment will be based in government goodwill, competition facilities, Games and Technical villages, establishment of a Local Organizing Committee and provision of both capital and operational budget. Phase 2 (between July and December 2017) will focus on the country’s ability to provide Games support services. The assessment will include among others, development of general rules and regulations, selection of sports codes, training facilities, accreditation system, Games marks and symbols as well as legal and financial systems. The third phase (January to June 2018) will focus on the ability of the country staging safe and secure Games. Assessment of the phase will deal with health, medical services and Anti-Doping systems, equipment, volunteers, competition schedules, transport and immigration procedures among others. The final phase (July to December 2018) will focus on Botswana’s ability to stage exceptional Games during which focus will be on ceremonies, entertainment, broadcasting, marketing, Games legacy and city beautification.
In his remarks during the signing ceremony, the AUSC Region 5 Chairperson, Dr Vetumbuavi Veii urged all parties involved and the entire country at large to work in earnest like a well-oiled machine to ensure that Botswana hosts memorable Games. Given Botswana’s experience in hosting international events, the Region expressed confidence that the 8th edition of the Region 5 Games would be a resounding success and an epitome of performance meritocracy. Dr. Veii expressed confidence that Botswana will pull all stops to ensure systems are put in place and that a budget would be allocated for the successful organisation of the Games. He pleaded with the Minister to render support to both the LOC and ROC in order to ensure success of the Games.
In his keynote address after signing the Protocol Agreement, the Minister emphasised Botswana’s commitment to the success of the 8th edition of the Region 5 Games. He stated that Botswana would draw inspiration from its past experience in hosting similar international tournaments to stage a memorable edition of the Games. “I am grateful to my Government for committing to host these Games and approving the budget for the successful hosting of the Games.” said the Minister. The Minister went on to say, “We will be hosting the Games in Gaborone which is why we have decided to use the hosting of the 2017 Botswana Games as a dress rehearsal to the 2018 Region 5 Games”.
The Minister assured the nation and the AUSC Region 5 that Botswana would respect the guidelines for hosting these Games and called for cooperation between the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Regional Organising Committee (ROC). “I want to assure the CEO that by April we will have established the LOC to allow work to commence in earnest,” said Minister Olopeng.
The past Games have featured sporting codes such as athletics and athletics for visually impaired, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Netball, Swimming, Judo, and Gymnastics. The host country is given an opportunity to propose an additional sports code that meets set criteria which includes popularity and existence of the sport in a minimum of five Member States at Under 20 age group level. The Games are scheduled to be held in Gaborone in December 2018. The sports codes and competition venues will be confirmed and announced by the LOC in due course.
Botswana signed the 2018 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under 20 Youth Games Protocol Agreement today (21 February 2017) in Gaborone. The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Hon. Thapelo Olopeng and the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Chairman Dr. Vetumbuavi Veii signed the Protocol Agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. The signing of this agreement paves way for earnest preparations for the successful hosting of the 8th edition of these biennial Games that are held in all the AUSC Region 5 Member Countries on a rotational basis in alphabetic order. The last Games were held in Luanda, Angola in December 2016. The Region 5 Member States are: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. However, non-Region 5 SADC Member States are invited to participate in the Games.
The AUSC Region 5 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Stanley Mutoya highlighted that one of the primary mandates of the AUSC Region 5 is to encourage, coordinate and promote the development of all forms of sport in the Region. The Games have left notable legacies in the seven Member States that have hosted the past editions most notably in the development of sports infrastructure and human capital.
“We are very excited that Botswana has committed to hosting the 2018 Games. Given the country’s track record and recent history in successfully hosting international events, including the Bots50 Celebrations in 2016, we have no doubt that this country will put its best foot forward and stage the best Games ever,” said Mutoya.
The AUSC Region 5 CEO went on to highlight the four preparation phases for the Games that will guide the LOC and all stakeholders in focusing their attention and concentration. Mutoya mentioned that in phase 1 of the preparation (between March and June 2017), the Region would be assessing Botswana’s capacity to host the Games. The assessment will be based in government goodwill, competition facilities, Games and Technical villages, establishment of a Local Organizing Committee and provision of both capital and operational budget. Phase 2 (between July and December 2017) will focus on the country’s ability to provide Games support services. The assessment will include among others, development of general rules and regulations, selection of sports codes, training facilities, accreditation system, Games marks and symbols as well as legal and financial systems. The third phase (January to June 2018) will focus on the ability of the country staging safe and secure Games. Assessment of the phase will deal with health, medical services and Anti-Doping systems, equipment, volunteers, competition schedules, transport and immigration procedures among others. The final phase (July to December 2018) will focus on Botswana’s ability to stage exceptional Games during which focus will be on ceremonies, entertainment, broadcasting, marketing, Games legacy and city beautification.
In his remarks during the signing ceremony, the AUSC Region 5 Chairperson, Dr Vetumbuavi Veii urged all parties involved and the entire country at large to work in earnest like a well-oiled machine to ensure that Botswana hosts memorable Games. Given Botswana’s experience in hosting international events, the Region expressed confidence that the 8th edition of the Region 5 Games would be a resounding success and an epitome of performance meritocracy. Dr. Veii expressed confidence that Botswana will pull all stops to ensure systems are put in place and that a budget would be allocated for the successful organisation of the Games. He pleaded with the Minister to render support to both the LOC and ROC in order to ensure success of the Games.
In his keynote address after signing the Protocol Agreement, the Minister emphasised Botswana’s commitment to the success of the 8th edition of the Region 5 Games. He stated that Botswana would draw inspiration from its past experience in hosting similar international tournaments to stage a memorable edition of the Games. “I am grateful to my Government for committing to host these Games and approving the budget for the successful hosting of the Games.” said the Minister. The Minister went on to say, “We will be hosting the Games in Gaborone which is why we have decided to use the hosting of the 2017 Botswana Games as a dress rehearsal to the 2018 Region 5 Games”.
The Minister assured the nation and the AUSC Region 5 that Botswana would respect the guidelines for hosting these Games and called for cooperation between the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Regional Organising Committee (ROC). “I want to assure the CEO that by April we will have established the LOC to allow work to commence in earnest,” said Minister Olopeng.
The past Games have featured sporting codes such as athletics and athletics for visually impaired, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Netball, Swimming, Judo, and Gymnastics. The host country is given an opportunity to propose an additional sports code that meets set criteria which includes popularity and existence of the sport in a minimum of five Member States at Under 20 age group level. The Games are scheduled to be held in Gaborone in December 2018. The sports codes and competition venues will be confirmed and announced by the LOC in due course.
