BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO
MBABANE – Six athletes from Eswatini are set to benefit from the enhanced Los Angeles 2028 Athlete Scholarship Programme.
The Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) has yet to finalize the selection process for the scholarship, with the beneficiaries expected to be announced later this year. The Olympic Solidarity initiative has increased the annual scholarship package from $7,500 (approximately E140 000) to $9,000 (approximately E165,000) for the coming year.
EOCGA Chief Executive Officer Maxwell Jele confirmed the news during a press conference held after the organization’s three-day retreat. The scholarship is designed to support athletes in their training and qualification journey for the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad in Los Angeles in 2028.
Notable Eswatini athletes who have previously benefited from this initiative include retired sprinter Sibusiso “Swazi Bolt” Matsenjwa, sprinter Bongiwe Mahlalela, swimmers Simanga Dlamini and Hayley Hoy, taekwondo artist Carlota Munave, and boxer Thabiso Dlamini.
The program’s primary goal is to assist athletes selected by their National Olympic Committees (NOCs)—in this case, the EOCGA—in preparing for and qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. Key objectives include enhancing athletes’ training and competition experiences, supporting their progression to the Olympic Games, and promoting the universality of the Games, especially for smaller NOCs and female athletes.
According to information provided by Olympic Solidarity, the scholarship offers a fixed monthly grant to cover training and qualification costs. These include access to specialized training facilities and camps, the services of a qualified coach, regular medical and scientific monitoring, accident and illness insurance, and board and lodging expenses. Additional benefits include pocket money, travel costs for competitions (including Olympic qualifiers), and other necessary support to aid the athletes’ preparation for the Games.
