Kutlo Motseta
24th March 2026
Debswana reaffirmed its commitment to national sport, by partnering with Botswana Athletics with sponsorship of P16 million for the upcoming World Athletics Relay Championships.
The relays are the third biggest global athletics competition after the Olympics and World Championships. They will be held for the first on the continent on the 2nd and 3rd May at the Gaborone National Stadium. The event will attract over 1 700 athletes and officials across the world.
Debswana’s managing director Andrew Motsumi pointed out that the games present an opportunity for Botswana to further grow on the global stage.
“As the world turns its attention to Botswana … we will show the world the story of its diamonds … the world relays presents such a moment,” he said.
“Debswana has played a role in Botswana’s economic success … since 2022 we have had a dedicated program to support Botswana athletes … which includes helping Botswana secure it first Olympic gold medal,” he added.
Sports Minister Jacob Selebe expressed his gratitude to Debswana and announced that the event has been renamed, ‘Debswana World Athletics Relays 2026’. Selebe stated that the world’s attention will focus on the nation, which called for Batswana to support their event and further highlighted the important intersection between sport and national growth multiple spheres.
“A momentous occasion for Botswana and Africa and the global athletics family … a global spectacle that will bring the world to our doorstep … a celebration of how far we have come as a country … it stands as a symbol and a badge of continental progress … it cements Debswana’s lasting legacy in advancing sport in our country … opens the doors for economic growth … and sports tourism,” said Selebe.
The event was also attended by the nations sports hero’, namely, Amantle Montsho, the country’s first sport world champion (400 meters, 2011); Isaak Makwala, the 2017 400m Diamond League men’s winner; Onkabetse Nkobolo, 2017 world champion world relay silver medalist; and Busang Colleen Kebinatshipi, the country’s first and reigning 400m men’s world champion.
Kebinatshipi expressed his gratitude to Debswana and evinced confidence ahead of the World Relays, introducing himself as incoming two-time World Athletics Relays champion, following Botswana’s first world relay title in 2024, which he secured with his patriots, namely, Lestile Tebogo, Leungo Scotch and Bayapo Ndori.
“Debswana has always been there for us with prize money. I saw this coming it’s [a] morale [booster] it’s always good to receive these [incentives] before championships because it gives us morale … they are known for having the best diamonds in the world and we are known for top top athletes. So this goes hand in hand … we are going to war not just to compete. We are going to train at the same stadium where we will be competing … we are wrapping it up in training and we are going to bring it home,” said Kebinatshipi.
Tickets are available at wregaborone26.com.
