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Botswana: Anxious Moments for Dance Sport
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
20 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
Chippa Legodimo
The dance sport association hopes for good tidings when the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) holds its convention next Thursday.
The association is waiting with bated breath to know whether the convention will make it an affiliate of the BNSC. So far the Botswana Dance Sport Association (BODANSA) has been denied the benefits that go with affiliation to BNSC.
Dance sport otherwise known as ballroom dance to many is a relatively new sport in the country. It is still fighting to get recognition as most people do not regard it as a sport.
But those who are passionate about dance will not give up until it gets the same recognition as the other sports codes. "We are holding our breath and crossing our fingers that affiliates of the BNSC will accept our association for affiliation. These are really anxious moments for us but I am positive we will pull through," BODANSA spokesperson Tshepho Mokhutshedi told Mmegi Sport.
He takes solace in the fact that his executive committee has prepared a strong case to be presented next Thursday at the BNSC convention. He said that although they would not like to be carried away, he believes they have a strong case which should make even those who are not necessarily fans of the sport to support the affiliation.
"We will just make a presentation and it will be up to convention to decide but frankly speaking, I see no reason why the majority should be against our proposal because we have done our best," Mokhutshedi said.
He added that they included a report from the International Olympic Committee. The IOC recognises dance sport as an Olympic sport hence its inclusion in its winter games in 2009.
"It is time the world accepted dance as a sport rather than art. The same way it has happened with karate.
If the IOC recognises us, why not do it here at home. The sooner we give it proper attention the better chances of it growing faster and producing stars who will hoist our flag high in various international competitions," Mokhutshedi said.
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He acknowledged that BODANSA has faced a serious problem of wrong perceptions and even if they are affiliated to BNSC, it would take a long time before all sectors of society accept ballroom dance as a sport. Due to non-affiliation to the BNSC, BODANSA has struggled to attract sponsorship and members have had to dig into their pockets to finance the activities of the association. "It will be a relief if we get the nod because at least we will be able to approach companies knowing that they could trace us back to the BNSC. Other sporting codes have continued to enjoy financial assistance from BNSC and that could also help us," Mokhutshedi said.
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