News

Lifting of Restrictions on Sports and Recreational Activities

Sep 21, 2020

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that His Excellency the President, acting in accordance with regulation 30G of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, has authorised the lifting of restrictions in relation to the following sports and recreational activities —

(a) practice and training; (b) social games;

(d) recreational sports.

All sports and recreational facilities may host sports and recreational activities daily where there shall not be more than —

(a) 50 participants at any given time; and

(b) 50 officials.

A sports and recreational host may operate where he or she has satisfied the Director of Health Services, or any person authorised by the Director of Health Services that he or she is able to comply with the directions for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 issued by the Director of Health Services as published in the Government Gazette, that —

(a) all persons in attendance of a sports and recreational activity and facility shall —

(i) be provided by the host with clean water and soap to wash their hands or with hand sanitizer throughout the duration of the activity,

(ii) wear a cloth face mask or homemade item that covers the nose and mouth or another appropriate item that covers the nose and mouth, where the person is not a participant of the activity, and

(iii) observe the social distancing requirements of being at least 2 metres apart from each other; (b) a person shall not travel across COVID zones for purpose of a sport or recreational activity;

(c) alcohol shall not be sold or consumed at the facilities during a sport or recreational activity; (d) water bottles and hydration containers shall not be shared by participants;

(e) daily disinfection of facilities and equipment shall take place where sports and recreational activities are carried out, under the supervision of the Director of Health Services;

(f) a sports and recreation host shall facilitate a minimum of a 30 minute break every 2 hours during a sport or recreational activity which is held indoors to allow for ventilation of the facilities;

(g) a sports and recreational host shall appoint a SHE officer for every activity;

(h) an adult shall supervise all junior sports and recreational activities;

(i) sports and recreational facilities shall be closed, upon direction of the Director of Health Services, where there is a reasonable suspicion that a person who has accessed the premises has come into contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 or that a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 has had access to the premises;

(j) the checking of body temperature of all persons in attendance of a sports and recreational facility is carried out by the host, and where the person’s body temperature is 37.4 degrees celsius and above, such person shall not be allowed to access the facilities, and the person shall be referred to the Director of Health Services;

(k) a sports and recreation host shall, maintain a register containing the personal details and contact details of all persons accessing the facilities; and

(l) the register referred to in paragraph (k) shall be open for inspection by the Director of Health Services for the purposes of contact tracing, and shall be open for inspection by any law enforcement officer for the investigation of an offence under the Regulations.

DATED this 16th day of September, 2020.

MALAKI TSHIPAYAGAE,
Director of Health Services.

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Botswana and Algeria Strengthen Sports Ties, with Football Development in Focus

Francistown, Botswana – The Honourable Minister of Sport & Arts, Mr. Jacob Kelebeng, recently welcomed a courtesy visit from Honourable Walid Sadi, Algeria’s Minister of Youth & Sports, along with His Excellency Ambassador Abdelmalek Tigharhar of Algeria.

The discussions centered on fostering collaboration between the two nations in sports development, with particular emphasis on Paralympics, football, boxing, and athletics. This engagement presents valuable opportunities for Botswana to benefit from Algeria’s advanced sporting infrastructure, training programs, and technical expertise.

As part of the visit, Honourable Sadi also met with BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng, alongside Minister Kelebeng. Discussions highlighted Algeria’s well-established football development structures, coaching programs, and talent identification pathways, which could serve as a benchmark for Botswana’s football growth strategy.

BFA President Emphasizes Football Development

Speaking on the significance of the engagement, BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that Botswana stands to gain valuable insights from Algeria’s football model.

“Football development remains a key priority for the BFA, and this engagement allows us to benchmark against one of Africa’s leading football nations. Algeria’s structured approach to grassroots football, coaching development, and high-performance training presents a great learning opportunity for Botswana. We are excited about the potential collaborations that will enhance our football structures and elevate the sport in the country,” said Babitseng.

The Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Ms. Nancy Chengeta of the Ministry of Sport & Arts (MOSA), along with key sports leadership figures, including:

✅ BNSC Chairperson: Mr. Marumo Morule

✅ BNSC CEO: Mr. Tuelo D. Serufho

✅ BNSC Executive Management

✅ Botswana Football Association (BFA) Executives

✅ Various dignitaries and stakeholders

The BFA remains committed to building strategic international partnerships that contribute to the growth, professionalization, and long-term sustainability of football in Botswana.