- NSAs have been tasked with identifying and removing obstacles that hinder women from participating in sports since 2019/20
TLOTLO KEBINAKGABO
The Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) is making an effort to address barriers to women in sporting activities and to ensure greater representation of women in sports.
Speaking at Women and Sports Botswana (WASBO) Women in Sports Symposium and Panel Discussion in Gaborone over the weekend, the CEO of BNSC, Tuelo Serufho, outlined key strategies that his organisation is using to promote growth of women in sports.
He noted that BNSC facilitated a focused study in 2019/20 with support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC).
Diversity and inclusion
“The study sought to determine the extent of women’s participation in sports and the barriers they face,” he said.
Among actions informed by the study was creation of a diversity and inclusion policy. “We worked with WASBO to develop this policy, and we’re ensuring adherence to it across the sports landscape,” Serufho said.
One significant initiative involves encouraging National Sports Associations (NSAs) to establish women’s commissions. According to Serufho, the NSAs are tasked with identifying and removing obstacles that hinder women from participating in sports.
Equal opportunities
“The idea is to have dedicated women focused on creating solutions, ultimately increasing female representation in sports,” he said.
Beyond policies, BNSC has adopted deliberate measures to ensure women’s significant representation in competitions under its control. Serufho emphasised that such efforts are critical to fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities in sports.