As reported by Botswana Daily News, the BNOC made a decision in April to raise funds through non-traditional sources and launched an SMS donation campaign that will run until August of next year.

The funds raised will compliment Government and International Olympic Committee support for the Botswanan team’s Olympic preparations.

"The target is to raise no less than BWP5.5million by the time the Tokyo Olympic Games begin, of which BWP2.5million (£192,000/$234,000/€210,000) is anticipated to be raised by end of August 2020 and is expected to come from the SMS campaign," Serufho said during a press briefing in Gaborone, where an update on the campaign was given.

Serufho added that BNOC used its social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, to market the campaign.

"The BNOC entered into a technical partnership with ViB Mobile, a mobile technology company," he said.

"Through this partnership, Batswana [people] can make contributions by donating BWP5 (£0.38/$0.47/€0.42) worth of airtime by sending 'Team BW' to 16789 to either Be-Mobile, Orange or Mascom."

BNOC has partnered with Turnstar Holdings to undertake public activations at Game City Shopping Mall in Gaborone and Nzano Centre Mall in Francistown, where a donation box will be available for the public to make donations.

Another public activation took place in Mahalapye, while media engagements through print and broadcast are continuing.

Botswana will be making their 11th consecutive Summer Olympic Games appearance at Tokyo 2020.

They won their first medal at London 2012 when Nijel Amos took the silver in the 800 metres.