Mosah Mokganedi
18 September 2008
The Botswana National Olympics Committee (BNOC) finds itself in a dilemma when they are supposed to pay the team that took part in the Olympic games in Beijing, China appearance fees. The committee says first of all they have not been allocated money for appearance fees.
Early this year, President Ian Khama issued a directive that national team players should be paid appearance fees for national duties.
However, Olympic games were left out as the directive was only issued to the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC). The committee, however, engaged with the Department of Sports and Recreation (DSR) on the issue as they felt it was equally important to reward athletes taking part in Olympic games.
The committee says it needs clarity on a lot of issues before they can give out money. The committee also wants the DSR to assure them that they will refund them if they use the money on appearance fees.
Additionally, the committee wants the DSR to come up with a criteria on how athletes will be paid since they took part in a multi sport event.
They also want DSR to say whether junior and senior athletes will be paid equally. BNOC feel athletes should be given the same amount of money as giving them different monies will be dividing them.
BNOC secretary general Moses Moruise said they are currently in talks with DSR about the issue.
He expressed hope that the issue would be resolved and athletes paid soon. He said they are also trying to get the funding for the fees. Moruise said BNOC's position is that athletes should be paid a standard amount. He pleaded with eligible athletes to remain calm as the issue is being taken care of.
Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) president Moses Bantsi said they are under pressure because athletes keep on knocking at their doors, enquiring about the money.
He said athletes seem to believe that the association has the money and is responsible for the delays in releasing it. Bantsi said initially they were not even aware that athletes were supposed to be paid, as they were never informed. Bantsi believes that the committee is as confused as they are. Bantsi said they are hopeful that "the money will soon come".
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