Boitumelo Khutsafalo
5 September 2008
Botswana will not be represented at this year's Paralympics Games starting tomorrow in Beijing, China.
Paralympics Association of Botswana (PASSOBO) spokesperson, Thomas Motingwa has said that the athletes they intended to send to the games have been rejected by organisers because they do not meet the qualifying criteria.
The organisers said the athletes have not participated in international events.
Motingwa said that they will be taking some athletes to Potchefstroom, South Africa in December to participate in competitions that will prepare them for the next Paralympics in London, England in 2012. He expressed concern that some of the sponsors believe that nothing good could come from athletes with disability.
This has also affected the development planning of PASSOBO which is forced to work with a small budget.
In 2004, Botswana sent only one representative to the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.
However, the representative, Tshotlego Morama did the country proud and made history by winning gold in the 400m. She is the first Motswana to win gold at such a high profile event.
She will not defend her title because of an injury. Motingwa said Morama's absence is a major blow for the whole country.
Yesterday, Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) programmes manager, Andrew Kamanga said there is need to encourage people to participate in the Paralympics.
He said there is need to encourage institutions like schools and colleges to organise competitions for the disabled.
He said that at the moment, BNOC does not have a fully organised structure for the disabled.
The organisation does not have enough resources to reach out to the disabled.
He, however, revealed that the government has agreed to assist them to serve the sports needs of people living with disability.
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