Sport receives welcome boost

Limba MupetamiWINDHOEKThe chief administrator of the Namibia Sports Commission, Freddy Mwiya said the increase in budget allocation will greatly benefit the sports ministry, in particular athletes who have for years been looked upon as 'unwanted stepchildren'.“It is indeed a great increase,” he said of the sports ministry's N$306.8 million budget allocation.The increase in the sports budget increases opportunities for development to take place.In his statement, finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi said the budget is aimed at enabling Namibia to better fight the spread of the coronavirus, support the businesses and livelihoods of Namibians during these extraordinary times as well as plant seeds for future economic recovery.Last yearLast year, the sporting promotion support division received N$44 million and youth training development and employment received N$153 million, while administration N$88 million. Furthermore, the minister's office functioned with N$2.6 million.For years, Namibian athletes have been turned into paupers with Paralympic champions scrounging for funds ahead of important competitions. This because the ministry did not have enough funds to accommodate all needy athletes.In this regard, Paralympic coach Michael Hamukwaya has been vocal that athletes are left with nothing to carry out activities. N$20m boostIn the 2018/19, the budget was sliced to N$286 million, which was N$97million less than the previous fiscal year. However, this year, sports received a N$20 million boost in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced sporting events across the world to be cancelled or postponed.

Sport receives welcome boost

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-17

Please login to leave a comment

Sport receives welcome boost

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-17

Please login to leave a comment

Login