TAFISA and the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) co-hosted an Active City Capacity Building Workshop in Gaborone on 15 and 16 October. Organised as part of the legacy of the 30th TAFISA World Congress, to be held in Gaborone in 2027, the workshop aimed to support the city on its path towards becoming a Global Active City.
Facilitated by TAFISA Secretary General Jean-François Laurent alongside Oarabile Nkwe, the workshop gathered city officers, civil servants, local stakeholders, and experts from Gaborone who will have a role to play in designing a Gaborone Active City strategy. Participants were welcomed by Gaborone City Council's Deputy Mayor Mankie Sekete, and the 30th TAFISA World Congress Organising Committee.
Over the two days, participants reflected on the concept of Active City and the significance of the city setting to promote Sport for All and physical activity. Further presentations were given by the Ministry of Health on physical activity and health in Botswana and Gaborone City Council on the city's current status, strategy, and plans related to physical activity and urban planning.
Participants also learnt from the experience of three Global Active Cities, whose representatives joined online to present their case studies: Bengt Fjeldbraaten on Lillehammer (Norway), Pat Quigley of Limerick Sports Partnership on Limerick (Ireland), and Wendeline van Lier and Liesbeth Verdonk on Rotterdam (Netherlands).
TAFISA thanks BNSC, the Ministry of Health, Gaborone City Council and the 30th TAFISA World Congress Organising Committee for their partnership, as well as Oarabile Nkwe and all speakers for their time and contributions. We wish all the best to the City of Gaborone in building its Active City strategy.
