Botswana becomes Africa’s first host of World Athletics Relays
Botswana has made history by securing the right to host the World Athletics Relays set for May 2-3, 2026, in its capital city, Gaborone, becoming the first country in Africa to host the event. The announcement was made during the 237th World Athletics Council Meeting in Nanjing, China, in March.
Jacob Kelebeng, Botswana’s Minister of Sport and Arts, said he was delighted that his country has been chosen to host the 2026 World Athletics Relays. He congratulated the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) on reaching the milestone, posting “We have done it,” on his social media account.
Although this is the first time that Botswana will host a World Athletics Series event, the nation’s capital city hosted the first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in 2023. This year’s Botswana Golden Grand Prix, which will take place in Gaborone on April 12, is also expected to be a gold-level event.
“This is a moment of immense pride for Botswana. The World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 will ignite a national passion, drawing the world to our shores and showcasing our unique spirit. We humbly welcome athletes and fans alike, knowing that this event will inspire generations and leave a lasting legacy of triumph and unity,” said Kelebeng in a statement.
Botswana made history in 2024 after winning the men’s 4x400m relay at the 2024 World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas. This victory marked the first time an African nation has won a men’s sprint event at the World Relays. The team’s win was impressive, with 20-year-old phenom Letsile Tebogo splitting 43.72 for the second leg. This achievement not only earned Botswana the gold medal but also secured their spot at the Paris Olympics.
Subsequently, Tebogo made another history for Botswana in the men’s 200m final at the 2024 Summer Olympics after winning Botswana’s first ever Olympic gold in any sport, and also clinging Africa’s first Olympic gold in that race at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris.
“I am delighted that Botswana’s commitment to athletics, both through their elite athletes and their event hosting capabilities, has led them to hosting the World Athletics Relays next year. This is the fourth World Championship event Africa has staged over the last decade, in addition to the Diamond League and Continental Tour Gold events, and we are seeing a real increase in experience, expertise, and skills,” said Sebastian Coe, World Athletics President, at the end of a two-day council meeting in Nanjing, China.
The Botswana team has already started getting ready to defend their gold medal at the 2025 World Athletics Relays, which will take place in Guangzhou, China, in May this year. Letsile Tebogo, the current Olympic 200m champion, is anticipated to stay on the squad.
In 2026, Botswana will celebrate its 60th anniversary of independence, and hosting the international event will be a significant turning point in the nation’s rise to prominence in athletics.
Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He is as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.
