Botswana rewards Olympic medalists with two-bedroom houses

• Team Botswana won a bronze medal in the men's 4×400 metres relay final after finishing behind the Netherlands and USA who won gold
• The medal was Botswana's only second since making their first appearance in the Olympics during the 1980 Games
• The team, which also set an African record in the men's relay was accorded a grand reception after they jetted back

Each member of Botswana's relay team that won bronze during the just concluded 2020 Tokyo Olympics has been rewarded with a two-bedroom house.

The team finished third in the men's 4×400 metres relay final to win Botswana's only medal at the Summer Games.

Incidentally, the medal was the southern African country's second in their history, having won the first one during the London 2012 Games through Nijel Amos who finished second in the men's 800m to clinch silver.

The 4x400m relay team was represented by Isaac Makwala, Zibane Ngozi, Baboloki Thebe, and Bayapo Ndori.

According to Tumiso Rakgare, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, the Botswana government will gift the team houses in recognition of their efforts in Tokyo.

"I am happy to announce today the 11th August 2021 that Government will offer each of the 6 team men’s 4x400m Relay Team members a 2 bedroomed house as a reward," Tumiso announced in a statement.

"I would like to thank and commend the Nation for rallying behind the team by encouraging them and wishing them well," he added.

The Olympians will also be rewarded with a cash prize of £3,200 (about GHC27,000) for winning bronze.

The USA men's relay team won gold during the Tokyo Summer Games, with the Netherlands finishing second to earn silver.

Team Botswana jetted back from Tokyo on the evening of Tuesday, August 11, with Tumiso Rakgar receiving them.

Uganda gifts Olympic medalists with cars

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Ugandan athletes who won medals at the just concluded Tokyo Olympics will be gifted a car and have houses built for their parents, according to President Yoweri Museveni.

Museveni spoke at the Kololo Ceremonial Ground on Wednesday where he received Ugandan athletes who did the nation proud in the just concluded Tokyo Olympics.

It was during this reception that the Uganda head of state renewed his promise to grant all athletes who clinched a medal at the Olympics a reward which entails a brand new car and a house for their parents.