Batswanas get day-off to celebrate country's first gold medal
Africa
By
Betty Njeru
| Aug 09, 2024
Letsile Tebogo of Botswana reacts after winning the men's athletics 200m final of the Paris Olympics at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France on August 8, 2024. [AFP]
Batswanas are a happy and ‘well-rested’ lot today.
Botswana President Eric Keabetswe Masisi has declared Friday, August 9 a half-working day, to celebrate the country’s first gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Letsile Tebogo, 21, clinched gold in the men’s 200 metres, beating American rivals Kenneth Bednarek and Noah Lyles.
The historic win became Africa’s first in the 200m title and Botswana’s first gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
READ MORE
Treasury goes for UAE loan as IMF cautions of debt situation
Traders claim closure of liquor stores, bars near schools punitive
Adani fallout is a lesson on accountability and transparency fight
How talent development is shaping Kenya's tech future
Street-style snappers reclaim the heart of Nairobi
Huawei, charity partners to empower women with digital skills in Kenya
African ministers champion ICT adoption for sustainable growth
Digital lender Tala surpasses Sh300bn mobile loans as Kenyans borrow more
KCB beats Equity in profits race as earnings after tax hit Sh44.5b
Government back to drawing board after KRA misses tax targets
President Masisi said the decision was to recognise and honour Tebogo as the first Motswana and African to win gold for 200m in the history of the Olympics.
“The president underscores, and acknowledges Tebogo’s performance and achievement as markedly outstanding, and deserving of the nation to pause and celebrate him, most uniquely and responsibly,” said Masisi.
The Batswana athlete dedicated the gold medal to his mother who died in May this year after a short illness.