Baby steps on rewards
The sports rewards policy is taking baby steps, with the sports ministry, through the Namibia Sports Commission, splashing N$230 000 on two athletes and their coaches.
Commonwealth Games gold medallists Helalia Johannes and Jonas Junias have received N$80 000 from the sports ministry for their 2018 triumphs, while their coaches have bagged N$35 000 each.
The rewards came via the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) yesterday.
NSC chief administrator Simataa Mwiya lauded the government for making the rewards available.
“I know that this… comes late, but I am delighted that it finally came through… I must also say that the coaches were rewarded because they have done a good job with the athletes.
“We have to thank the government for making these funds available after such a long wait for the athletes,” Mwiya said.
In April 2018, Johannes proved that perseverance pays off when she won her first Commonwealth gold medal in the women's marathon, following many years of failed attempts.
Johannes finished in a time of two hours, 32 minutes and 40 seconds.
Junias won his gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, held in Australia, after defeating Canadian Thomas Blumenfeld 5-0 in the final of 64kg division.
Johannes lauded the ministry and the NSC for her reward.
“It has been a long wait for me to get this reward… With the money I have won, I am going to buy running shoes and proper supplements to keep my body in shape.
“I am also going to do some business in order to have a future when I eventually retire. The other thing I will be doing with this money is to help my fellow athletes, who always help me whenever I am training or preparing for an event,” Johannes said.
Her coach Robert Kaxuxuena received N$35 000 for steering the athlete to her gold medal, while Junias coach Patrick Kashera also received N$35 000.
The rewards policy applies to athletes who win medals at Olympic and Paralympic Games, world championships, Commonwealth Games, All-Africa Games, African championships (seniors) and the Special Olympics World Summer and Winter Games.
For gold, silver and bronze medals at the Olympic or Paralympic Games, athletes are to receive N$200 000, N$150 000 and N$100 000, respectively, while the coaches will receive N$80 000, N$60 000, and N$40 000, respectively.
For the world championships, gold medal winners will take home N$100 000, while a silver medal will net N$80 000 and a bronze N$50 000, and coaches receive N$50 000, N$30 000 and N$20 000, respectively.
A world senior championships gold medal will earn an athlete N$30 000, while N$20 000 and N$15 000 will be dished out for silver and bronze medals, and coaches will receive N$10 000, N$8 000 and N$5 000, respectively.
A Commonwealth and All-Africa Games gold will earn an athlete N$80 000, while N$60 000 and N$40 000 will be given for silver and bronze medals, respectively, and coaches will be rewarded N$35 000, N$25 000 and N$15 000, respectively. African championships winners will get N$50 000, while N$30 000 and N$20 000 will be paid to silver and bronze medal athletes, and coaches will get N$20 000, N$15 000 and N$10 000, respectively.
Special Olympics World Summer or Winter Games athletes will be rewarded with N$40 000 for gold, N$30 000 for silver and N$20 000 for bronze. The coaches of winning athletes in the same competition will get N$20 000, N$15 000 and N$10 000, respectively.
The policy also includes awarding preparation grants to coaches and athletes. Grants of N$5 000 per month are included for individual athletes who have qualified for the Commonwealth Games, All-Africa Games, African championships and world champs.
For preparations for the Olympic or Paralympic Games, world cups, world championships, All-Africa Games and African championships, senior teams will get N$1 million.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
The rewards came via the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) yesterday.
NSC chief administrator Simataa Mwiya lauded the government for making the rewards available.
“I know that this… comes late, but I am delighted that it finally came through… I must also say that the coaches were rewarded because they have done a good job with the athletes.
“We have to thank the government for making these funds available after such a long wait for the athletes,” Mwiya said.
In April 2018, Johannes proved that perseverance pays off when she won her first Commonwealth gold medal in the women's marathon, following many years of failed attempts.
Johannes finished in a time of two hours, 32 minutes and 40 seconds.
Junias won his gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, held in Australia, after defeating Canadian Thomas Blumenfeld 5-0 in the final of 64kg division.
Johannes lauded the ministry and the NSC for her reward.
“It has been a long wait for me to get this reward… With the money I have won, I am going to buy running shoes and proper supplements to keep my body in shape.
“I am also going to do some business in order to have a future when I eventually retire. The other thing I will be doing with this money is to help my fellow athletes, who always help me whenever I am training or preparing for an event,” Johannes said.
Her coach Robert Kaxuxuena received N$35 000 for steering the athlete to her gold medal, while Junias coach Patrick Kashera also received N$35 000.
The rewards policy applies to athletes who win medals at Olympic and Paralympic Games, world championships, Commonwealth Games, All-Africa Games, African championships (seniors) and the Special Olympics World Summer and Winter Games.
For gold, silver and bronze medals at the Olympic or Paralympic Games, athletes are to receive N$200 000, N$150 000 and N$100 000, respectively, while the coaches will receive N$80 000, N$60 000, and N$40 000, respectively.
For the world championships, gold medal winners will take home N$100 000, while a silver medal will net N$80 000 and a bronze N$50 000, and coaches receive N$50 000, N$30 000 and N$20 000, respectively.
A world senior championships gold medal will earn an athlete N$30 000, while N$20 000 and N$15 000 will be dished out for silver and bronze medals, and coaches will receive N$10 000, N$8 000 and N$5 000, respectively.
A Commonwealth and All-Africa Games gold will earn an athlete N$80 000, while N$60 000 and N$40 000 will be given for silver and bronze medals, respectively, and coaches will be rewarded N$35 000, N$25 000 and N$15 000, respectively. African championships winners will get N$50 000, while N$30 000 and N$20 000 will be paid to silver and bronze medal athletes, and coaches will get N$20 000, N$15 000 and N$10 000, respectively.
Special Olympics World Summer or Winter Games athletes will be rewarded with N$40 000 for gold, N$30 000 for silver and N$20 000 for bronze. The coaches of winning athletes in the same competition will get N$20 000, N$15 000 and N$10 000, respectively.
The policy also includes awarding preparation grants to coaches and athletes. Grants of N$5 000 per month are included for individual athletes who have qualified for the Commonwealth Games, All-Africa Games, African championships and world champs.
For preparations for the Olympic or Paralympic Games, world cups, world championships, All-Africa Games and African championships, senior teams will get N$1 million.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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