27 April 2026
The diamond embedded World Athletics Relays medals connect Botswana ’s natural diamond provenance, local enterprise, creative industry and sport diplomacy. The Government of Botswana and the diamond sector have jointly launched a new initiative to bring together key players across the diamond value chain and celebrate 60 years of diamond development.
60 Years of Diamond Leadership Initiative sees Okavango Diamond Company, De Beers Group, Debswana Diamond Company, Diamond Trading Company Botswana, Lucara Botswana and KGK Diamonds work together.
This also saw the unveiling of the diamond embedded medals for the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 at the Botswana National Museum. Okavango Diamond Company’s partnership with Ankit Gems and SRK, who covered the cost of polishing the diamonds, alongside Nungu Diamonds, demonstrates how collaborative investment can connect diamond polishing, jewellery-making capability, creative industry development and sport-for-development impact.
Speaking at the launch, Hon. Bogolo Kenewendo, Minister of Minerals and Energy, said the country’s next chapter is anchored on advancing provenance, deepening socio-economic impact, expanding citizen participation across the value chain and accelerating downstream development.
“Today, Botswana stands as a benchmark for ethical luxury, where diamonds are valued for their integrity, their traceability, and their contribution to national development.” – Hon. Bogolo Kenewendo, Minister of Minerals and Energy
In remarks delivered at the event, President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, reflected on the broader national significance of diamonds, noting the contribution to infrastructure, healthcare, education and its global standing. The President positioned the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 as a platform of resilience, growth and excellence, and as a moment through which Botswana can host the world with confidence.
The unveiling of medals featuring Botswana natural diamonds, sponsored and produced through ODC, provides a powerful symbol of this ambition. The medals connect the excellence of athletes with the discipline, resilience and value of natural diamonds, allowing its story to travel through sport.
The Main Gallery featured artworks by local artists, giving the event a distinctly Botswana visual language and affirming that diamond leadership must also create space for culture, creativity and local talent to be seen on national and international platforms.
One of the initiative’s enterprise-development highlights is the Tokafala-supported Leteise Tote Bag project. Through the programme, Debswana has supported the training of 34 textile operators, the majority of whom are women, including participants from mining communities such as Boteti. Curated by AfroFusion, the tote bags will represent Botswana’s heritage at international trade fairs and global engagement platforms.
The diamond sector’s contribution to the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 reinforces a broader national principle: mineral value, when managed with intention, can be transformed into public value, supporting sport development, local enterprise, tourism linkages, creative industry growth and Botswana’s global positioning.
Source: https://shorturl.at/LUrI4
