Botswana Golden Grand Prix

Botswana Golden Grand Prix
DatesLate April
Host cityGaborone, Botswana
VenueBotswana National Stadium
LevelWorld Athletics Continental Tour Gold
2024 Botswana Golden Grand Prix

The Botswana Golden Grand Prix, formerly called the Gaborone International Meet, is a track and field meeting held at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone. Since 2023, it is a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold level meeting – the second-highest level of athletics meetings behind the Diamond League.

The meeting was founded by the Sport View Runners Club as the Sports View International after Gaborone hosted the 2011 African Junior Athletics Championships, though the first international meeting was not held until 2012.[1] It was rebranded to Gaborone International Meet in 2017 before adopting its current name in 2020.[2][3][4]

It was the third-ever meeting in Africa to be promoted to Continental Tour Gold status, after the Rabat Diamond League in Morocco and the Kip Keino Classic in Kenya. Per an agreement signed in 2023, it will be a Gold status meeting through 2025.[5] Former 800 metres runner Glody Dube has been described as "the brains behind" the operation.[6]

The 2024 edition, originally scheduled for 14 April, was cancelled on 29 March due to administrative disagreements about whether Dube or the Botswanan government would organize the event. Mmegi reported that a source told them, "World Athletics reportedly wants to rope in an American company in conjunction with the government to take over the organisation of the event, which is scheduled for April 14". Dube sued World Athletics, and by late March, the lawsuit was still ongoing and the Botswana Athletics Association had to cancel.[7][8]

Editions

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Botswana Golden Grand Prix editions
Ed. Name Date Ref.
1st 2012 Sports View International 18-19 Apr 2012 [9]
2nd 2014 Sports View International 19 Apr 2014 [10]
3rd 2015 Sports View International 23 May 2015 [11]
4th 2017 Gaborone International Meet 29 Apr 2017 [12][13]
5th 2018 Gaborone International Meet 29 Apr 2018 [14]
6th 2019 Gaborone International Meet 27 Apr 2019 [15]
7th 2022 Gaborone International Meet 30 Apr 2022 [16]
8th 2023 Botswana Golden Grand Prix 29 Apr 2023 [17]

References

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  1. ^ KALA
    Correspondent, THATO (2012-03-02). "Sports View unveils invitational races plan". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2024-02-15.     {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Mlilo, Portia (2020-11-03). "GIM appoint technical delegate » TheVoiceBW". TheVoiceBW. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  3. ^ "Botswana: World Athletics Admits Gaborone International Meet". 6 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Botswana: Sports View Hosts International Competitions". Botswana Daily News. 20 May 2015.
  5. ^ Rannoba, Anita (2022-11-14). "GIM turns Gold | Sunday Standard". Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  6. ^ Mlilo, Portia (2022-05-10). "Glory and goodbyes at GIM » TheVoiceBW". TheVoiceBW. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  7. ^ Dube, Mqondisi (2024-02-20). "Showdown looms over Golden Grand Prix". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  8. ^ Staff Writer (2024-03-30). "BAA wants Grand Prix cancelled". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  9. ^ "Hunt for Olympic berths continues". Mmegi Online. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  10. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12849336". Tilastopaja.
  11. ^ Kolantsho, Calistus (2015-05-21). "International athletes to spice Sports View meet". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  12. ^ Admin (2017-05-04). "Amos shines at Gaborone International Meet". Botswana Gazette. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  13. ^ Admin (2016-12-21). "Bitter-Sweet 2016 at BAA". Botswana Gazette. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  14. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12906504". Tilastopaja.
  15. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #12927933". Tilastopaja.
  16. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13002229". Tilastopaja.
  17. ^ "Athletics recap for meeting #13036162". Tilastopaja.
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