By: Hee-Dee Walenga
The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) hosted an event on Friday evening to celebrate the young Namibian athletes who competed at the 4th African Youth Games in Angola last December.
Team Namibia put on a commendable performance throughout the games, returning with a total of 20 medals. 13 of those came from the swimming team, whilst 5 medals came from athletics, with boxing and golf adding a medal each to the tally. Namibia finished 10th overall out of the 54 countries that participated at the games.
“What we experienced in December at the Youth Games was something truly special. It was an important moment for Namibia and it was a real test for the NOC. Namibia didn’t just to participate, we competed, we belonged, and we delivered,” said NNOC Vice President and former Olympian, Gaby Ahrens.
The Executive Director of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC), Gerald Vries, spoke on behalf Minister Sanet Steenkamp, stating that “We do not celebrate medals alone. We celebrate effort, commitment and national pride. Every athlete carried the Namibian flag with honour.”
Vries also acknowledged the effort of the staff and external stakeholders who worked behind the scenes to contribute to Namibia’s success.
“This success aligns directly with Namibia’s national development plans. NDP 6 reflects the understanding that sport is a powerful driver of youth development, social cohesion, national identity, health, economic opportunity, and international visibility,” Vries expressed.
Hollard Insurance, Team Namibia’s main corporate sponsor, was represented by the Head of Transformation & Corporate Communication, Sam Kauapirura. He revealed that Hollard has committed N$250,000 in travel insurance for Team Namibia for the duration of their three-year partnership.
The Villager caught up with Elina ‘Bam Bam’ Shilongo, a 16-year-old boxer who won a bronze medal for Namibia in the bantamweight division. Shilongo expressed joy over representing Namibia for the first time in her young boxing career.
“It felt great. I was just told to go make my passport because I am going to Angola. I did it without even knowing that it was Olympic qualification,” Bam Bam stated.
The Africa Youth Games form a critical step in the pathway towards the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Youth Olympic Games.
