Botswana Unveils Diamond-Accented Medals for the 2026 World Athletics Relays

The Southern African diamond-rich nation is hosting the games and adding sparkle to its prizes for the World Athletics Relays.Botswana)At 60, Botswana has never shone brighter. Launching its ‘60 Years of Diamond Leadership Initiative’—a combined effort with its government and diamond sector—the event announced diamond-accented medals for the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26, to be held in Botswana on May 2nd and 3rd, marking the first time it’s been held in any African country since its 2014 inception.

Botswana is hosting a track and field event and marking its gold, silver, and bronze prizes with its most valuable resource natural diamonds. The event is part of the six-decade celebration of the country’s independence and mining industry. The timing is poignant. The country recently earned its first gold in Tokyo at last September’s World Athletics Championships, a sister competition to the World Athletics Relays. Diamonds and athletic excellence both reflect discipline, resilience, and value, qualities shown in the medals. The medals also reflect Botswana’s rich gemological history worldwide.