Billions Botswana will spend to host World Athletics Relays
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 09.04.26. | 16:43
Unforeseen costs, particularly the renovation of the University of Botswana Stadium, pushed the figure significantly higher
Botswana's budget to host the upcoming World Athletics Relays 2026 is set to run past the billion shilling mark after additional costs to their initial budget.
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As excitement builds ahead of the event slated for Friday, 2 to Saturday, 3 May in Gaborone, details of the financial commitment required to deliver the global spectacle have come into sharp focus.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) is working with a budget that has risen to P153 million (approximately Ksh1.45 billion), driven largely by infrastructure upgrades and operational demands.
The budget has received a boost from key corporate sponsors, including Debswana Mining Company, which contributed P16 million (Ksh152 million), and Stanbic Bank Botswana, which added P5 million (Ksh47.5 million).
They join other founding sponsors such as Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited, Halfway Toyota, and Diamond College of Botswana.
According to LOC CEO Moses Bantsi, the initial budget projections by World Athletics ranged between P96 million (Ksh912 million) and P104 million (Ksh988 million).
However, unforeseen costs, particularly the renovation of the University of Botswana Stadium, pushed the figure significantly higher.
“The government provided some funding, which initially reduced our deficit to P47 million (Ksh446 million. Thanks to sponsorships, including in-kind contributions, that deficit has now dropped to P27 million (Ksh227 million),” Bantsi said.
A substantial portion of the expenditure has gone into essential services and infrastructure. These include a P22 million (Ksh209 million) power integration project, anti-doping operations, stadium upgrades, and procurement of temporary facilities such as tents.
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Additional costs cover accommodation and meals for about 1,600 delegates, alongside apparel, medals, and the opening ceremony.
The LOC is also footing the bill for return airfares for 350 athletes and officials, as well as a P300,000 (Ksh2.8 million) payment to Dentsu Inc., the exclusive global marketing and broadcasting partner for World Athletics.
Broadcasting rights have further inflated the budget, with organisers reportedly paying around US$625,000 (approximately Ksh80.7 million) to World Athletics.
These rights have since been secured for Botswana Television (BTV), ensuring local coverage of the high-profile event.
With funding gaps narrowing, attention is now shifting to logistics and presentation. Bantsi emphasised the importance of national readiness, calling for improved infrastructure, cleanliness, and security.
“It is up to us as a country to host the event successfully. Roads should be maintained, streets cleaned, and security must be top-level. We previously lacked funds to brand the city and market the event, but that will now change,” he noted.
Preparations have already been tested through the Lefika International Relays, which served as a trial event. Organisers used it to assess technical readiness, with only minor issues reported and quickly resolved.
The stakes for the competition are high, with performances in Gaborone set to determine qualification for major global events, including the Africa Senior Championships, the Commonwealth Games, and the 2027 World Athletics Championships.
Fans can also expect a star-studded lineup, headlined by Botswana’s Olympic sensation, Letsile Tebogo.
He will be joined by global sprint heavyweights such as Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson, Ferdinand Omanyala, and Sha'Carri Richardson, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown in southern Africa.