Quinton-Steele Botes Explained

Quinton-Steele Botes (30 April 1960  - 23 June 2014) was a Namibian sport consultant. He won the International Olympic Committee Award in recognition of his promotion of athletics in Namibia.

As technical manager of the Namibian Olympic Team, he attended 2 Olympic Games, 3 World Games, 1 African Games and 2 Commonwealth Games. Botes was a member of the executive board of the Namibia National Olympic Committee in 2009.[1]

In 2005, Botes resigned from Athletics Namibia after many personal differences with its president (who announced Botes' expulsion two weeks later and denied receiving a resignation letter). Botes said "I have already resigned and have nothing to do with Athletics Namibia".[2] The organization elected a new president in 2009, and Botes was elected chairperson of its Track and Field Committee and thus a member of its council.[3]

He was a second-level tutor of the International Association of Athletics Federations, and a course director and lecturer of the IAAF and International Olympic Committee.[4]

Death

On 20 September 2007, Botes was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood. He died after a long battle with the disease on 23 June 2014, aged 54. He was survived by his son, Ibarto.[5]

Botes was among ten people honoured posthumously by Namibia's President Hifikepunye Pohamba in August 2014.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Who's Who of Namibia . Embassy of Namibia . 19 July 2018 . 2009 . 272 .
  2. News: Botes 'officially expelled' from athletics . https://web.archive.org/web/20080905032612/http://www.namibian.com.na/2005/December/sport/05F172FA3D.html . September 5, 2008 . live . . 7 December 2005 . Corry . Ihuhua .
  3. News: Frank Fredericks elected Athletics Namibia President . 22 June 2009 . 19 July 2018 . African Athletics . Mark . Ouma .
  4. http://www.economist.com.na/content/view/4524 Quinton calls it quits from Athletics Namibia
  5. News: Namibia: Sports Fraternity Mourns Quinton-Steele Botes . allafrica.com . 25 June 2014 . 19 July 2018 . Helge . Schutz . subscription .
  6. News: Hundreds honoured at State House . 27 August 2014 . 19 July 2018 . New Era .