Botswana outrage over request for money to reward Olympic athletes

The request has raised eyebrows as citizens ask why their taxes aren't being used to reward the Olympians.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersBacklash as Botswana requests money for Olympic heroesAFPLetsile Tebogo won Botswana's first ever gold medalPeople in Botswana have reacted with outrage on social media after the government asked citizens to donate money to reward the country's historic gold-medal winning Olympic team.

The fund would be a way for citizens to honour the athletes by "contributing rewards to our champions", said the government in a statement on Monday.

Letsile Tebogo brought glory to Botswana after he became the first African athlete to win the men's 200m at the Olympics, bringing home the country's first ever gold medal.

But the government's request for donations has halted celebrations for some, who question why their taxes aren't being used to reward the Olympians.

"We are already paying tax, give our champions [sic] money from the government purse," raged one user on Facebook.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y3m99q823o

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