Lesotho’s trio of athletes heading to France for the 2024 Paris Olympics later this month will each be given M50 000 before their departure. The three athletes are taekwondo star Michelle Tau, marathoner Tebello Ramakongoana and short distance runner Mokulubete Makatisi and their windfall was announced by the Minister of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture, Motlatsi Maqelepo on Monday.
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The trio will comprise Team Lesotho at the Olympic Games set to start on July 26 and run until August 11.
Maqelepo said the sports ministry is aware of the hardships the athletes face, whether that is in the qualification process for the Olympics or in their preparations.
The minister acknowledged it is not easy for the athletes and said the money is a gift from the Lesotho government.
He added that anyone who represents the country internationally would be rewarded.
“We decided that by just representing the country in the Olympics, we will give them M50 000,” Maqelepo said.
“It is not the money that we keep and say we will give to the athletes (if they do well at the Olympics), we honour them for just qualifying for the Games and representing the country,” he said.
“This money is an honour from the government of Lesotho and the sports associations that we work together with; the athletes made us proud. If they did not qualify, our country was not going to be represented (at the Olympics).”
Maqelepo said now it is up to the athletes to motivate themselves so they can confidently raise the national flag.
He said the sports ministry’s aim is to “build patriotism and loyalty, so that Basotho can be proud of their country and have trust in it.”
Maqelepo said every athlete that will represent Lesotho in international, continental or regional games going forward would be rewarded, just for raising the national flag at such events.
He said bonuses such as the one going to Tau, Ramakongoana and Makatisi will incentivise other athletes and next time the number of qualified athletes will increase.
“I wish Team Lesotho all the best and we hope they will be returning home with some awards,” the sports minister said.
Maqelepo also handed over a cheque for M30 000 to Thakane Tau, Michelle Tau’s mother. The 26-year-old Tau has become a shining light for Lesotho sport.
Tau won a bronze medal at the African Games in March.
In May, she then captured the Sportswoman of the Year accolade at the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Sports Awards in Zambia.
She goes to Paris as Lesotho’s best hope of success. Tau is Africa’s top ranked woman in taekwondo’s – 49kg weight division.
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