The sole female candidate for the BNOC presidency, Yarona Sharp, has unveiled a bold agenda that focuses on athlete welfare, gender equity and organisational reform
TLOTLO KEBINAKGABO
Seasoned sports administrator Yarona Sharp has thrown her hat in the ring to become the next president of the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) in elections scheduled for this Saturday.
A former BNOC Senior Vice President and Botswana Chess Federation President, Sharp’s campaign rests on four pillars: athlete welfare, talent development, gender equity, and organisational sustainability.
ATHLETES’ FUTURES BEYOND SPORTS
“I am running because I am the most qualified candidate with the clearest vision for the future of Botswana sports,” she asserted in an interview.
Sharp’s promises timely stipends, access to world-class coaches, advanced sports science and medical resources, and comprehensive pre-games preparation for major events such as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
Sharp also plans to create educational and vocational programmes that secure athletes’ futures beyond sports, reducing off-field anxiety and allowing athletes to focus fully on performance.
‘ADOPT-AN-ATHLETE’ INITIATIVES
In her outlook, strategic corporate partnerships, including ‘adopt-an-athlete’ initiatives, must be key to providing stable, personalised support.
“The goal is to create an stress-free environment so athletes can focus 100 percent on their performance,” Sharp explained.
As the only female candidate in the race, she acknowledges the gender dynamics that may be at play. Being candid about the scrutiny that women leaders face, Sharp is aware that a woman’s assertiveness can be misinterpreted as aggression while empathy may be perceived as weakness.
GENDER OPPORTUNITIES
Rather than ignore gender, Sharp embraces it as an opportunity to redefine leadership at BNOC. She stresses that her campaign is about ability and vision, not symbolism. Elevating female athletes and expanding Botswana’s sports portfolio beyond traditional disciplines is a core objective.
Sharp is also determined to tackle governance and transparency concerns. She plans to introduce radical transparency measures, including quarterly public forums, publication of selection policies, and accessible board meeting minutes.
Independent ethics and audit committees, robust whistleblower protections, and mandatory governance training for board members are part of her proposed reforms.
Clarity of roles
Sharp emphasises separating powers within BNOC in order to ensure clear roles and accountability for all leadership positions.
“Every pula and thebe meant for athlete preparation will be tracked and used transparently for its intended purpose,” she said, underlining her commitment to restoring confidence in the organisation.
Sharp’s top priorities are clear: securing financial sustainability for the BNOC, elevating female athletes, and strengthening the talent pipeline to consistently produce world-class athletes and support personnel.
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
She aims to modernise BNOC operations, leverage digital platforms for revenue growth, and foster corporate partnerships to reduce dependence on government grants.
With a vision anchored in both performance and sustainability, Sharp presents a roadmap that seeks to position Botswana as a more competitive, inclusive, and professionally managed sporting nation.