As Botswana prepares to host the 30th TAFISA World Congress in October 2027, the TAFISA Board’s visit to Botswana offered an opportunity to explore the country’s development journey and reflect on how investment across different sectors can contribute to a more active and inclusive future.
As part of the visit, the Board toured KGK Diamonds and the Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB), gaining insight into Botswana’s diamond industry and its role in the country’s economic development.
Botswana’s diamond story extends beyond the precious stones themselves. It is also a story about how natural resources can contribute to national development, create economic opportunities and support the wellbeing of communities. The visits provided an opportunity to appreciate the relationship between the diamond industry and the country’s wider development ambitions, including the importance of ensuring that economic progress translates into meaningful benefits for its people.
This connection speaks directly to the theme of the 30th TAFISA World Congress: “Sport for All: Investing in Active Futures.”
Investing in active futures means recognising that development is about more than economic growth. It is also about creating the conditions for people to live healthier lives, participate in their communities and access opportunities that support their wellbeing. Sport and physical activity have an important role to play in this broader development agenda, contributing to health, social inclusion, youth development and stronger communities.
Achieving this requires collaboration across sectors. Government, business, sport organisations and community stakeholders all have a role in creating opportunities for people to participate in sport and physical activity. Partnerships that connect economic development with social investment can help build communities where the benefits of progress are experienced more widely.
For TAFISA, the visit provided a valuable perspective on Botswana’s national development story as preparations for Gaborone 2027 continue. It also reinforced the opportunity for the World Congress to bring different sectors together to explore how investment, partnerships and shared responsibility can advance Sport for All.
As Botswana prepares to welcome the global Sport for All community, its development journey provides an important context for the conversations ahead: how can the resources, partnerships and opportunities available today help create healthier, more active and inclusive communities tomorrow?
Because investing in active futures is ultimately about investing in people and ensuring that development creates opportunities for everyone to thrive.
By Game Mothibi,