Batswana packed the national stadium in the capital Gaborone to welcome their Olympic heroes, especially the sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo.
Having been granted an afternoon off by President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetwe Masisi, over 30,000 fans filled the stadium to receive the country’s Olympics team which won two medals, a gold and silver.
Traditional songs were sung as the athletes arrived in an open top-bus parade, waving to fans as they went round the stadium before being ushered to the dais where President Masisi was waiting to welcome them.
The heroic reception comes after Tebogo won a gold medal in the 200m, a first ever Olympics title for the country, before he anchored the 4x400m relay team to silver. His 200m victory is also the first by an African.
Team Botswana were celebrated for their gallant performance and the athletes will also receive bumper rewards for their efforts in Paris.
Botswanan gold medallists in Paris will be rewarded P1 million (GH¢1.12 million), silver attracting P500,000 (GH¢560,958.84) while bronze medallists take home P250,000 (GH¢280,479.42). Finalists will also be rewarded with a P25,000 (GH¢ 28,047.94) cash prize.
It does not end there for Tebogo as his government also promised to reward all Olympics gold medalists with P2,500 (GH¢2,804.79) in monthly groceries for a year.
