As Botswana prepares to host the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, tensions between athletes and sports administrators have escalated over issues of allowances, incentives, and welfare.
According to sources close to the matter, members of Team Botswana have threatened to withdraw from camp, raising concerns about potential disruption to what is one of the country’s most significant sporting events. At the heart of the dispute lie concerns about camp allowances and unpaid incentives linked to previous international competitions, including the upcoming World Athletics Championships.
Athletes argue that the existing support framework no longer reflects the realities of inflation and rising costs. Under the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) Performance Incentives and Rewards Package, first introduced in 2012 and revised in 2022, athletes receive P100 per day while in camp. This package was designed to motivate performance and provide additional income to athletes representing the nation. It also includes rewards based on results in continental and world-level competitions, beyond appearance fees. Yet, athletes now say this framework has not kept pace with inflation and fails to meet the demands of elite preparation.
In a letter obtained by this publication, the athletes expressed “deep concern and disappointment” with the current incentive structure, especially after being informed that no funds were available and that Local Organizing Committee (LOC) resources were not intended for athlete allowances.
“As national team athletes preparing to represent Botswana, we have collectively resolved to take action by withdrawing from camp effective 22 April 2026,” the letter declares. The athletes note that the cost of training has risen sharply. Nutrition, recovery, transportation, and daily expenses now require significantly more resources than in previous years. “The allowances we currently receive are no longer realistic and do not cover basic preparation costs, let alone compensate for the time and sacrifice we make,” the letter continues.
Another key grievance involves qualification incentives. Some athletes argue that Botswana’s host nation wildcard entry to the World Relays has inadvertently deprived them of bonuses usually earned through qualification on merit.
While recognizing that wildcard entries create opportunities for additional teams, athletes who consistently meet qualification standards say the system has exacted a financial toll. “For those of us who consistently qualify on merit, this removes the qualification incentives we usually rely on,” the letter states.
The letter also poses a broader question: If Botswana is hosting a global event, what tangible benefits do the athletes, expected to carry national hopes on the track, actually receive? “Hosting should uplift its athletes, not leave them worse off than before,” it argues.
Despite their frustration, the athletes insist they remain committed to representing Botswana and competing at the highest level. They say they are open to dialogue but call for urgent intervention before morale deteriorates further.
Meanwhile, sources within the LOC suggest that some athletes have demanded a share of sponsorship funds linked to the World Relays, including P16 million from Debswana and P5 million from Stanbic Bank Botswana. Not all athletes support the hardline stance, with some reportedly leading the boycott threat while others remain opposed.
This publication has also learned that participation contracts have begun circulating, with female athletes reportedly among the first to sign confirmation documents for the relays. Behind the scenes, funding challenges appear to be intensifying the tension. Sources indicate that portions of sponsorship funding have yet to be fully reflected in event accounts, forcing organizers to rely on the BNSC for operational payments related to preparations.
Amid the dispute, Lucara Botswana has pledged P1 million towards Team Botswana’s preparations. Of this amount, P705,000 is earmarked for allowances for athletes and officials, P250,000 for accommodation and meals, and P45,000 set aside as a contingency fund for unforeseen expenses. Lucara described the sponsorship as timely, as Botswana seeks to field a competitive relay team on home soil.
Meanwhile attempts to obtain official comment from the BNSC were unsuccessful at the time of publication. Calls to spokesperson Anderson Nlisa, the commission’s marketing and communications manager, went unanswered.