Of the 15 applications submitted by the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC), five were successful, with BNOC acting chief executive Lame Ramokate revealing afterwards this was the highest allocation they had ever received. 

Amos, who shot to fame in 2012 by taking an Olympic silver medal in a world junior record time of 1:min 41.73sec, was the world's standout performer over two laps the last two years.

In addition to his Commonwealth Games success in Glasgow, where he best world record holder David Rudisha of Kenya, the 20-year-old also won the Summer Universiade title in Kazan in 2013, as well as a string of Diamond League successes.

With the Olympic Solidarity scholarship set to fully cover boarding, lodging, training, coaching as well as sports science and medicine costs over the next two seasons, the news is a major boost in Amos's quest to convert silver to gold at Rio 2016. 

Five-time African high jump champion Kabela Kgosiemang, whose best clearance is a Botswanan record height of 2.34 metres, will also receive a scholarship, along with 400m sprinters Pako Seribe and Isaac Makwala.

Swimmer Naomi Ruele, winner of an individual medley silver medal in home water at the African Youth Games in Gabarone earlier this year, is the final recipient, and the first ever Botswanan from a sport other than athletics to receive Olympic Solidarity support.

BNOC congratulate their five Olympic Solidarity recipients ©BNOC



"Rio 2016 seems far distance away but it is imperative for all stakeholders to know that it will be here soon," said Ramokate following the announcement.

"I have no doubt that the supporting structures given to athletes by BNOC will put them in a very good position to qualify for Rio 2016."

With Amos winning the country's first Olympic medal in London, Botswana is becoming a template for other African nations.

The BNOC were awarded one of seven "Breakthrough NOCs of London 2012" accolades at the Association of National Olympic Committees Gala Awards in Bangkok last week.

Gabarone 2014 was a further success, with the only disappointment this year being the positive drugs test suffered by former 400m world champion Amantle Montsho during the Commonwealth Games.

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