By: Justicia Shipena
The Sports Commission of Namibia (NSC) on Tuesday announced the postponement of the much anticipated MTC Namibia Youth Games 2022.
The games were scheduled to take place from 11 to 17 December 2022 and have now been shifted to 2023.
Last year, NSC announced another postponement to which its chief administrator Freddy Mwiya said a congested sports schedule forced them to shift the games to December 2022.
In 2020, youth games were held in Rietfontein and Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa region, and the first edition took place in Windhoek in May 2018.
“Owing to some unavoidable circumstantial events and circumstances beyond our control, Namibia Sports Commission regrettably wish to announce that the MTC Namibia Youth Games 2022 that was scheduled to take place from 11 – 17 December 2022, after careful consultations and considerations with our key stakeholders deem it as not feasible for the events to go ahead this year as was originally planned,” said NSC’s chief administrator Simataa Mwiya.
According to NSC, the decision to shift the games to next year has not been taken lightly.
In 2021, MTC took over all core matters pertaining to the organisation of the games after the event was marred by a lack of accommodation for participating athletes, a lack of decent meals for athletes and officials, and poor hygiene.
“We would like to reiterate our commitment to progressing the sport and seeing growth in the sporting fraternity, particularly considering that this event accelerates athlete development at this level,” said Mwiya.
Mwiya added that details on the event timelines will be announced in the first quarter of 2023.
In this light, he thus tendered an apology on behalf of its stakeholders.
“Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this may have caused. Furthermore, we extend our profound gratitude to the MTC Namibia Youth Games Local Organising Committee (LOC), Regional Organising Committees (ROC) and NSC Regional Structure for your unwavering commitment towards delivering the operational and logistic arrangements associated with the event.”
He concluded that the NSC is committed to coming back bigger and stronger next year.
“As we will make use of the extended time to better prepare and attract more stakeholders to increase the effective delivery of this project,” he expressed.
Upon taking on the youth games boat, MTC injected an annual amount of N$1.8 million for the 2021 youth games, but there was a massive shortfall of close to N$1 million that was supposed to be derived from the sports ministry.
Last month, it was reported that the third edition of the MTC Namibia under-20 youth games, which features sports codes such as football, netball, volleyball, basketball, boxing, tennis, athletics and para-sport, was expected to host over 2 000 athletes in Khomas region.
The third edition of the U20 youth games postponed again
