Botswana Makes History as First African Nation to Host World Athletics Relays

On March 27, 2025, Addis Ababa — The Botswanan Minister of Sports and Culture, Jacob Kelebeng, voiced his satisfaction at Botswana securing the hosting privileges for the 2026 World Athletics Relays.

The global athletics organization, World Athletics, has announced that Botswana, an African country, will be hosting the 2026 World Athletics Relays. The event is set for May 2nd and 3rd, 2026.

Kelebeng announced on his social media platform, celebrating the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) for achieving this significant milestone.

It will mark the first occasion for Botswana to host a major global sporting event, as well as the initial time the World Athletics Relays take place on African soil.

The positive announcement came from World Athletics President Sebastian Coe during the conclusion of the two-day council meeting held on Tuesday in Nanjing, China.

According to the World Athletics press release, the event is set to take place in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, from May 2 to May 3.

Hosting the global event signifies a major landmark in Botswana’s rise to prominence in athletics and aligns with the nation's 60th anniversary of independence in 2026.

Botswana’s men's 4x400-meter relay team stands out as a formidable presence in this discipline. They currently hold the title of world relays champions after claiming victory at the 2024 competition in the Bahamas. Following their triumph, they secured an Olympic silver medal to conclude their competitive run. This accomplished squad boasts three world relay medals: one bronze, one silver, and one gold.

Furthermore, the Botswana squad has initiated their preparation to retain their gold medal at the forthcoming 2025 World Athletics Relays scheduled for May in Guangzhou, China. The reigning Olympic 200m champion, Letsile Tebogo, is anticipated to continue as an integral member of the team.