Botswana continues to bask in the glory of their Olympic team’s achievements, so much that President Mokgweetsi Masisi has granted a second half-day public holiday in less than a week.
Emmah A. Peloetletse, the Permanent Secretary to the President of Botswana, made the announcement through a statement on Monday evening, stating President Masisi found it fitting to give another afternoon off to welcome Team Botswana home following their outstanding performance.
The President even invited members of the public to receive the team who clinched gold and silver medals in the games at the national airport.
“While the public is invited to join the President to receive our distinguished athletes at the airport, government encourages members of the public to consider heading to the national stadium to avoid congestion which might complicate security and logistical protocols,” the statement further read.
According to the secretary, the team’s arrival would be live streamed to the various wards in the country’s districts with everyone urged to wear the country’s colours.
“At the districts, members of the public are encouraged to assemble at their Dikgotia where the arrival will be streamed live. Everyone is encouraged to put on Botswana colours.
“This decision by His Excellency has been duly made to recognize and honour the athletics prowess of our young people. The national outpowering of gratitude to our champions, and the support of the entire Team Botswana is a solid demonstration of the collective pride and hunger that we have for success.”
The half-day holiday comes less than a week after Botswana residents got an afternoon off following Letsile Tebogo’s gold medal win in the men’s 200m on Thursday, August 8.
This marked Botswana’s first Olympic gold medal since 1980 and the first for Africa over the distance since 1996, and the sprint star later guided his country to a silver medal by anchoring the 4x400m relay team to a notable second place.
For his contribution to the historical feat, Tebogo is set to pocket over Ksh 20.7million from his Paris Olympics win in the 200m final.
The Botswana government had pledged P1 million (Ksh9,538,990) for gold medalists, P500,000 (Ksh4,769,495) for silver and P250,000 (2,384,747) for bronze medalists. Additionally, finalists were promised a P25,000 (Ksh238,474) cash prize.
Along with the $50,000 (Ksh6,475,000) World Athletics prize for gold medalists, Tebogo has reaped big from his victory in the Paris games.
In addition, the government has promised to give all Olympic gold medallists P2,500 (Ksh23,847) in monthly groceries for a year, so he will continue receiving groceries valued at that amount until at least August 2025.
