Solidarity fund continues to uplift athletes

Limba Mupetami WINDHOEKAs it stands, six Namibian athletes - marathon runner Helalia Johannes, boxers Jonas Junias Jonas, Tryagain Ndevelo and Tromifus Johannes, rower Maike Diekmann and cyclist Alex Miller - benefit from the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship. They receive funding to assist them en route to qualification as well as in preparation of the Tokyo Olympic Games, slated for July to August this year.The fund is from money the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gives the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) as support.Last year, the IOC increased the budget of Olympic Solidarity for the period of 2021 to 2024 by 16%. The budget now totals US$590 million (N$8.9 billion). More solitary needed“One important lesson that I hope we have all learnt from the current Covid-19 crisis is that we need more solidarity. We need more solidarity within societies, but also among societies. Solidarity is one of the key values which the Olympic community is actively promoting,” IOC president Thomas Bach said last year.NNOC secretary-general Joan Smit said they receive US$100 000 (N$1.5 million) from the solitary fund. They then allocate 50% of the funds to the athletes’ preparation and qualification as well as paying for training facilities, coaches, physiotherapy and supplements for the athletes, she said.However, it is not clear how much each athlete gets.The rest then goes to administration costs. No funding from govtSmit added that they do not receive funding from the local government due to the financial crises it is in. She emphasised that these crises didn’t start when Covid-19 hit, but way before that.Overall, not every athlete can be assisted with an Olympic scholarship. They need to demonstrate their potential at national and international level to be selected, Smit clarified.

Solidarity fund continues to uplift athletes

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

Please login to leave a comment

Solidarity fund continues to uplift athletes

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

Please login to leave a comment

Login