The 2025 Special Olympics Botswana National Games officially kicked off in Lobatse with official opening by Sport and the Arts minister Jacob Kelebeng – celebrating more than 600 athletes living with intellectual disabilities who are set to showcase their sporting talents throughout this week.
In his address, the Minister described the Games as a powerful declaration of inclusion, saying the event represents a commitment to dismantling barriers, challenging stereotypes, and recognising the abilities of people with disabilities. He emphasised that accessibility and dignity are not favours but fundamental rights, noting that Botswana’s human rights oriented approach has been central since the current administration took office in 2024.
Athletes aged between 12 and 22 will participate in various disciplines, including bocce ball, volleyball, soccer and athletics, with the Games running until November 28. The competitions also serve as a crucial platform for selecting Botswana’s representatives for upcoming international events such as the 2027 World Special Olympics Games in Chile and the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games scheduled for December 2026 in Mozambique. Minister Kelebeng expressed deep appreciation for the coaches, parents, clinical directors, teachers, and volunteers who “carry the torch of inclusion from classrooms to clinics, from dusty village grounds to national arenas,” and thanked them for shaping a more compassionate sporting culture. He also praised the athletes themselves, calling them the nation’s stars whose resilience and courage continue to inspire the country.
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening inclusive access to sport, developing talent at community and school levels, and ensuring that every person living with a disability has a pathway to participate and excel. He commended Special Olympics Botswana and its partners, including the BNSC, BNOC, government departments, sponsors and families, for investing their time, resources, and love to make the Games possible. Declaring the Games open, he wished the athletes well and called for every race and match to reflect unity and the true spirit of inclusion.
Following the Special Olympics, Botswana’s Paralympics calendar will transition into the National Paralympic Games, which will feature athletes from categories including physical impairment, visual impairment and hearing impairment, as well as demonstration sports like fencing, darts, table tennis and weightlifting.
The Paralympic competitions are set for early December, beginning with preliminary games on December 3, followed by athlete participation in the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Jwaneng on December 4, and concluding with final matches and the awards ceremony on December 5. Public Relations Officer of the Paralympic Association of Botswana (PASSOBO), Kgosietsile Motlhaping, said they are working closely with affiliated clubs that have long supported athletes living with disabilities, but highlighted funding as a persistent challenge. He explained that the cost of the sport has forced some wheelchair athletes to borrow equipment, adding that despite support from the Ministry of Sports and Arts and Debswana, more stakeholders are needed to sustainably grow the sport.
Botswana’s para-sport movement has, however, enjoyed significant international success in recent months. At the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, India, athlete Bose Mokgwathi made history by securing Botswana’s first-ever medal at the global Paralympic level, winning bronze in the men’s T13 400m with a personal best time of 49.66 seconds.
His teammate, Edwin Masuge, finished sixth in the same race, recording 51.65 seconds, while Gloria Majaga narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the women’s T13 400m as she crossed the line in fourth place with a strong 1:01.30. Their performances have strengthened optimism about Botswana’s future in international para-sport and reinforced the importance of continued investment in inclusive sporting pathways.
