PREPARATIONS for the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Maseru 2020 Youth Games are proceeding smoothly as the upgrading of Ha Rapokolana access road is currently underway and the track at Setsoto stadium is also being improved.

Allaying the nation’s fears that the arrangements might be behind schedule, Maqalika Matsepe, the Ministry of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation Chief Information Officer, said there is no need for panic, adding that the renovations will be finished on time for the games to kick off in December.

He said the Rapokolana access road from the mountain road is being upgraded in order to allow participants to move easily during the regional youth competition.

Swimming, he said is one of the sporting codes that will be hosted at this high altitude training centre located on the outskirts of Maseru.

“Because only the gravel road will be upgraded, work on that road will begin a few weeks before the event kicks off, to avoid the possible washing away of the road by torrential rains in the event the reconditioning is done too early,” he said, adding that the track at Setsoto stadium is worn out and needs to be upgraded as well.

''There is no need for the public to be worried about the readiness of the facilities at this stage as things are proceeding as planned,'' he noted.

He said there are 12 sporting codes, including athletics, boxing, basketball, netball, volleyball, judo, taekwondo, athletics for the virtually impaired persons and swimming among others, adding that teams in each code will soon go to camp to select national squads.