GABORONE - The Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) has announced the four codes comprising 30 participants to represent Botswana at the March 15-26 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.
The BNOC Secretary General, Moses Moruisi told a press conference held in Gaborone last Thursday that the four codes that will represent the country at the games are athletics, boxing, gymnastics and bowling.
The team will be in the hands of Tjiyapo Mokobi, the chef de mission and Solly Reikeletseng as the general manager.
Athletics is expected to field 13 athletes depending on the athletes performance in the continuing preparatory competitions in South Africa.
Gymnastics will be taking one athlete, while lawn bowls is expected to field nine bowlers and boxing seven fighters.
Although some codes did not make it to the games, others such as boxing have reduced the number of participants from the initial eight athletes.
BNOC public relations officer Reikeletseng said the participating codes were approved by BNOC, subject to their continuing to meet the preparation criteria set by the committee.
He said they wanted to take the best performers to the games. The qualification deadline is January 31.
The colours award ceremony will be held on February 24 at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) while the team will leave for Australia on March 7.
They are expected to return on March 28 and a welcome reception will be held for them on March 30.
Apart from the P2 million provided by the government for the preparations and actual participation at the games, Reikeletseng said they were still negotiating with BHP Billiton, an international mining and resources company, for additional sponsorship.
He added that the details of the sponsorship would be announced in due course. BOPA