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The Fairytale Victory in GaboroneIt was a fairytale ending to the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone. In the final strait, Collen Kebinatshipi surged past South Africa's Zakithi Nene to win the men's 4x400m relay for Botswana. The home crowd, a sea of light blue, went wild as the small African nation celebrated another remarkable achievement in their meteoric rise to sprinting dominance."It means so many things to us," Letsile Tebogo, 22, the reigning 200m Olympic champion, who ran the second leg, told reporters afterwards. "Not just the team … but for the people that always cheer for us behind the TV. Now they had that experience to see first-hand how much effort, how much pressure, how much we give for them."Botswana's Sprinting RevolutionBotswana, a country larger by area than Spain with a population of just 2.5 million, has had a meteoric rise to the top of men's sprinting. Tebogo's Olympic gold in Paris in 2024 was the country's first, and only its fourth medal of any colour. The men's 4x400m relay team took silver, improving on bronze from three years earlier. Then, at the world championships in Tokyo last year, Kebinatshipi won the 400m while the relay team he anchored also took home gold.The athletes are superstars in Botswana, their faces plastered on billboards advertising everything from mobile phone contracts to milk. "My life has changed a lot," Kebinatshipi told a press conference before the relays. The 22-year-old, who started running at school, said he now allowed half an hour for photos with fans when he went out shopping. "At first I was a bit nervous, because I wasn't used to it … Nowadays I'm used to it, so it's cool with me," he said.The Infrastructure Behind SuccessYears-long investment in young athletes is one of the biggest reasons for the southern African country's recent success, sports officials said. The Botswana Athletics Association's chief executive, Mabua Mabua, said: "I must thank the school sports programmes that we used to have, because basically all of the athletes that you are seeing, the youthful ones, are coming from that programme."He also highlighted the country's infrastructure. "All of the preparations for the team are done locally. Normally people say 'no, they should go to Europe, USA, for preparations'. It's local coaches, a local environment."The Botswana National Sports Commission runs programmes for 15 sports to spot and nurture talent. Re Ba Bona Ha, meaning "We See Them Here" in Setswana, is a coaching initiative for children aged five to 13 that was launched for football in 2002, with athletics added in 2008. Up to 300 children attend athletics sessions every year, said Frederick Kebadiretse, the BNSC's sports development manager.Then there are twice-yearly holiday camps to identify older students for eight centres of sports excellence, which were founded in 2011. The centres run weekday afternoon and weekend training sessions, with 30 to 40 students picked for athletics annually.The Gender Gap in Botswana AthleticsBotswana's female athletes have not yet matched the men's results. Oratile Nowe, the seventh fastest woman this year over 800m, is the current highest performer.The officials admitted more needed to be done to support women and girls. "We need to widen the pipeline so we can get more and more young women to join," Mokgwathi said. "The other thing, of course, is to encourage more and more women to become coaches and technical officials … And we need to protect young women coming into the sport, so that they stay."Preserving Botswana's Athletic LegacySports officials warned that without the school sports programme, which was suspended in 2019 due to a dispute between the government and teachers, Botswana's recent athletics success was at risk. "The pipeline is not there," said Martin Mokgwathi, who chaired the world relays organising committee. "[Performance] will dip unless something is done very, very quickly."The atmosphere at the World Athletics Relays was described by World Athletics president Sebastian Coe as one of the top three he had experienced in athletics. "I put that atmosphere in the top three that I've experienced live in athletics. The first was Cathy Freeman winning in Sydney. The second was Mo Farah hitting the front with a lap or so to go in the 10,000 in London, when the wall of noise was deafening … [This] comfortably sits in the top three for me."The Future of Botswana's Athletic DominanceAs Botswana celebrates its current success, the focus is on maintaining momentum and addressing challenges. The suspension of school sports programs remains a significant concern, with officials emphasizing the need to restore this vital talent pipeline. Additionally, there's a growing recognition of the need to develop women's athletics to match the men's success.With emerging talents like Resego Kelly Makwala, 15, the daughter of former Botswana sprint star Isaac Makwala, there are promising signs for the future. However, sustained investment in infrastructure, coaching, and youth programs will be crucial to ensure Botswana continues its remarkable rise in global athletics.

A World Athletics Nationality Review Panel has rejected eleven requests from athletes seeking to transfer their sporting allegiance to Turkiye. The panel described the applications as part of a coordinated recruitment strategy orchestrated by the Turkish government through a state‑financed club offering lucrative contracts. The denied petitions originated from five Kenyan runners—including former women’s marathon world‑record holder Brigid Kosgei—four Jamaican throwers, notably Olympic discus champion Roje Stona and shot‑put bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell. The remaining two athletes were Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili and Russian heptathlete Sophia Yakushina. World Athletics explained that approving the transfers would compromise its eligibility and allegiance regulations, which are designed to ensure a genuine connection between athletes and the nations they represent and to safeguard the sport’s integrity worldwide. “The applications formed part of a coordinated recruitment strategy led by the Turkiye government acting through a wholly‑owned and financed government club, to attract overseas athletes through lucrative contracts,” the governing body said in a statement. The panel warned that such moves aim to boost Turkiye’s representation at future events, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. These rules were tightened in 2019 after World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe likened some athlete switches to human trafficking. The current framework requires demonstrable ties—such as residency, heritage, or long‑term commitment—to the new country. Turkiye has a history of naturalising foreign talent; its squad at the 2016 European Championships featured athletes from Kenya, Jamaica, Ethiopia, Cuba, Ukraine, South Africa and Azerbaijan. Notable success stories include Ramil Guliyev, who switched from Azerbaijan and won the 200 m world title in 2017. Other nations, like Qatar, have similarly used financial incentives to attract athletes, exemplified by Egyptian‑born weightlifter Fares Ibrahim Hassouna**, who secured Qatar’s first Olympic gold in Tokyo 2021. Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi also switched from Kenya at age 15 and later claimed Olympic and world titles in the steeplechase. World Athletics clarified that the refusal does not bar the eleven athletes from competing in individual meets, road races, or training in Turkiye; it merely blocks official national representation under the Turkish flag.

Sir Craig Reedie, who has died aged 84, was a pivotal figure in London's successful bid to stage the 2012 Olympics. As a member of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games from 2005 to 2013, he formed a highly effective partnership with Sebastian Coe, the bid leader, doing crucial work behind the scenes to secure the Games for London.Reedie's diplomatic skills and influential presence within the Olympic and Paralympic movement were instrumental in winning the support of British politicians and marshalling the votes of Olympic delegates. Coe credited Reedie with playing a vital role in London's bid success, saying that without his efforts, London might never have won the right to host the 2012 Games.Reedie's commitment to drug-free competition was unwavering. He was a founder board member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in 2000 and served as its president from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure, he clashed with the then IOC president Thomas Bach over Russia's state-sponsored doping regime, ultimately leading to Wada banning Russia from all international competition in 2019.Reedie's sports career began as a leading badminton player. He later became president of the International Badminton Federation and successfully campaigned for the sport's inclusion in the Olympics. His administrative work in badminton led to his appointment as chair of the British Olympic Association (BOA) and later as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where he served as vice-president from 2012 to 2016.Throughout his career, Reedie was known for his tough but charming demeanor, earning him respect from his peers. He was knighted in 2006 and elevated to knight grand cross in 2018. The Sir Craig Reedie Badminton Centre in Glasgow was renamed in his honor in 2014.

Sir Craig Reedie, a giant of the Olympic movement, has passed away at the age of 84. He served as chair of the British Olympic Association for over a decade and was instrumental in securing the 2012 Olympics for London.Reedie was also the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) during a tumultuous period when Russia was found guilty of state-sponsored doping. He recommended banning Russia from the 2016 Rio Games, although this was ultimately rejected by the International Olympic Committee.Tributes have poured in for Reedie, with Sebastian Coe, the World Athletics president, describing him as a mentor, wise counsel, and great friend. Coe credited Reedie with playing a pivotal role in London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics.Reedie's dedication to the Olympic movement and clean sport has been widely praised. Dame Katherine Grainger, the current BOA chair, highlighted his tireless efforts to promote Olympic sport and his commitment to fair play.

British athlete Keely Hodgkinson has poked fun at West Ham over their reluctance to give up the London Stadium for the 2029 World Athletics Championships. Hodgkinson, who recently won the World Indoor Championship 800m, took to social media to express her thoughts on the matter.In a lighthearted post, Hodgkinson suggested that the GB team would bring back more medals to the London Stadium than West Ham has seen in its entire history. This comment came in response to reports that West Ham's stance could jeopardize London's bid to host the championships.Sebastian Coe, the World Athletics president, has expressed his desire to hold the 2029 championships in September as a finale to the athletics season. However, West Ham is hesitant to give up the London Stadium for approximately three weeks, citing their football season commitments.The dispute has garnered attention from athletics fans, with many supporting Hodgkinson's comments. West Ham fans, on the other hand, have expressed mixed reactions, with some finding Hodgkinson's remarks disrespectful.The London Stadium, which hosted the London Olympics in 2012, has been West Ham's home since 2013. The club has a contractual right to prioritize their games during the football season. Lord Coe has commented on the matter, stating that he believes West Ham's deal is favorable.Other cities, including Rome, Munich, Nairobi, and an Indian city, are also interested in hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championships. The final submissions from bidding cities are due in early August, with a decision expected in September.

London's bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships is facing a significant challenge due to West Ham's refusal to allow their stadium to be used in September. Sebastian Coe, the head of World Athletics, has expressed concerns that this stance could scupper the bid, despite strong backing from the UK government and the mayor's office.World Athletics has specified that the championships should be held as the grand finale to the athletics season, typically in September. However, West Ham United has a 'contractual right' ensuring their games take priority during the football season and has shown no indication of changing their stance.“It's really difficult for me because I have a view, but I have to be scrupulously neutral, because London is clearly not the only bid out there,” said Lord Coe. “All I would say is that I would hope that there is a recognition that outside the Olympic Games and the World Cup, this is the third-largest sporting gathering in a four-year cycle.”Coe also mentioned that staging the championships earlier in the summer to avoid clashing with the football season is not a viable option, as it would contradict the organization's goal of concluding the athletics season with the championships.The initial deadline for bids for both the 2029 and 2031 world championships is 3 April, with final submissions due on 5 August. The winning cities will be announced in September.