Botswana's World Athletics Relays Triumph Overshadowed by Growing Local Complaints

Just a week after Botswana received international acclaim for successfully hosting the World Athletics Relays, a wave of complaints has emerged from key local groups who were instrumental in the event's execution.

The championships, held at the National Stadium in Gaborone, marked the first time the global event was staged on African soil.

The competition delivered spectacular moments, highlighted by the local men's 4x400m team setting a new World Relays record of 2:54.47.

However, Mmegi Online has reported that behind the on-track success, frustrations are mounting among transport operators, volunteers, spectators, and local media, who cite exclusion, poor coordination, and communication breakdowns.

The Taxi Association of Botswana has voiced its disappointment, accusing organisers and the government of sidelining the local transport industry.

Association chairperson Edison Tlhomelang stated that the taxi sector should have been integrated into the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) framework.

He argued that this would have allowed local operators to benefit from transporting athletes, officials, and the thousands of visitors who flocked to Gaborone, but the expected economic benefits failed to materialise for them.

In the days following the event, social media platforms and local news outlets were flooded with grievances from volunteers and technical officials.

These complaints, often shared through screenshots and online posts, detailed widespread confusion regarding allowances, accommodation, meals, and general working conditions.

According to the reports, volunteers were initially promised an allowance of $20 per day for four days. However, this was later changed to P300 per day, with some volunteers claiming the payment terms were altered multiple times, even as they were lining up to be paid. Other allegations suggest that some individuals were not fully compensated for all the days they worked.

Issues with accommodation and transport reimbursements were also prominent among the online grievances. Furthermore, volunteers reported that meal arrangements were inconsistent, with instructions changing several times.

At one point, they were told to share meals with Sports Volunteer Movement (SVM) members, only to be separated later.

Additional frustration stemmed from unfulfilled promises of official merchandise; while volunteers expected full officiating apparel, including trousers and windbreakers, many allegedly received only T-shirts and shoe bags.