Botswana Athletics Association

The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) was established in June 18th 1972 when about 22 people from towns and villages of Botswana met at Gaborone Secondary School to form a National Athletics Body. (Botswana Daily News, No. 90, 1972). The Association was officially registered on the 31st June 1979 and its president was Lt. Gen. Mompati Merafhe. Since then the sport of track and field has enjoyed rapid growth and popularity throughout the country.



The Association is charged with the responsibility to encourage promote and develop track and field athletics, road running, race walking and cross country in Botswana. In line with these objectives the Association has been sending Athletes to participate at international competitions. Over years Botswana has enjoyed some success in Major competitions. The BAA currently has International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) ranked in 400m, 800m and long Jump. From an athlete running an Olympics 800m finals in 2000 to a junior Athlete bringing home a bronze medal at the world Junior Championships in 2004. The Association also made great strides when a youth athlete came fourth at the 2005 World Youth Championships in the 800m event. Two Athletes won silver medals, one at the commonwealth games and the other at the African Championships in 2003.



The Limitations currently facing BAA is the exclusion of events such as hurdles, pole vault, steeplechase, race walking and hammer throw. Consequently, emphasis is being placed on availing opportunities to those interested in these events.





Vision



The pursuit of performance excellence in athletics for the nation.





Mission Statement



Botswana Athletics Association aims to develop athletics through enhancing and promoting the pursuit of athletics excellence from youth to masters.





Affiliation



The BAA currently has seventeen member clubs. It is affiliated to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the African Athletic Confederation (AAC) as well as the Botswana National Sport Commission.