MASERU — The Lesotho Amateur Athletics Association (LAAA) has protested at the continued use of the country’s old flag at competitions in South Africa.
Lesotho changed its national flag in 2006 when it dumped the one introduced by the military government in 1986 after overthrowing the Basotho National Party.
The old flag was flown at last month’s Nedbank Johannesburg City Marathon which was dominated by Lesotho athletes.
The LAAA said they were shocked that Athletics South Africa (ASA) had continued to use the old flag associated with military rule.
“We were shocked by the continued use of the old flag at the South African athletics competitions,” LAAA president Mokebe Maketela told the Lesotho Times this week.
“We raised this issue with the Ministry of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation and decided to pay ASA an official visit to hand-deliver the new flag.”
LAAA officials met with their South African counterparts during last weekend’s Yellow Pages SA Junior and Youth Track & Field Championships in Pretoria.
Lesotho was represented by 12 athletes at the event.
Maketela said the LAAA was going to use Lesotho’s new flag at all of its events as a way to sensitise the public.
“The LAAA will sensitise the public, both local and international, by making sure that Lesotho’s flag is used at all its events,” he said.