The De Beers Group of Companies and its joint ventures, Debswana and DTC Botswana, have today announced that they have signed a P2.5m deal to sponsor the Second African Youth Games – the first ever international tournament to be hosted in the country. The donation will be made to the Games Organising Committee towards the preparation of the event.
The sponsorship is the latest in a series of initiatives run by the De Beers Group and its joint ventures to ensure that communities in their producer countries benefit from their natural diamond resource. Debswana has been instrumental in supporting grass-root sports development through Re Ba Bona Ha Programme and DTC Botswana has contributed towards the development of the young citizens of Botswana in various sectors including art and education.
Delivering his address on behalf of De Beers Group of Companies, Balisi Bonyongo, Managing Director of Debswana, said, “We are excited to partner with BAYGOC to build future world class sportsmen and women of this country. The 2nd Africa Youth Games will undoubtedly put Gaborone and the country on the global map.”
Managing Director of DTC Botswana, Tabake Kobedi, added, “It gives us great pride to be part of this momentous occasion as we lend a helping hand towards the 2nd African Youth Games. DTC Botswana has always taken community involvement seriously, through our support of various initiatives in the education and the arts.”
Paul Rowley, Executive Vice President of De Beers Global Sightholder Sales emphasised, “De Beers is proud to be a supporter of the 2nd Africa Youth Games. Diamonds commemorate special moments in a relationship and this year Botswana and De Beers celebrate almost five decades of a diamond journey together. How fitting it is then that, together, we celebrate the personal achievements of these young men and women over the coming days as Botswana showcases Africa’s young sporting stars of the future.”
It is anticipated that the African Youth Games will provide opportunities for local athletes to put their talents to test and to benchmark against the best in Africa in preparation for future international tournaments.
