The Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) has committed P10 million towards 120 medals embedded with locally processed diamonds for the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 2026, adding a commercial edge to what is already a major sporting event.
Set for May 2–3 at the National Stadium, the relays will be held in Africa for the first time. For Botswana, the event is also being used to push a clearer message about where its diamonds come from, and who benefits from them.
Minister of Minerals and Energy Bogolo Kenewendo said government and industry have been working to present a more unified story around Botswana’s diamonds, moving away from scattered marketing efforts.
“We want to tell our story ourselves,” she said, pointing to a coordinated approach that brings together players across the diamond value chain.
President Duma Boko said the medals are meant to do more than reward athletes. By embedding diamonds that are cut and polished locally, Botswana is tying its natural resources directly to a global audience.
Each medal, he said, carries a piece of the country’s history and its development story, from infrastructure to education and healthcare, all of which have been funded in part by diamond revenues.
The move also comes at a time when natural diamonds are facing growing competition from lab-grown alternatives. Botswana is leaning into what it sees as its strength, authenticity and traceability.
For ODC, the sponsorship is as much about visibility as it is about symbolism. With the relays expected to draw global attention, the medals offer a simple but effective way to keep Botswana’s diamonds in the spotlight.
There are also local benefits. Production linked to the event, from merchandise to official gifts, has involved citizen companies, adding some economic activity beyond the stadium.
