Working together to fund Tokyo team

LIMBA MUPETAMIWINDHOEKThe chief administrator of the Namibia Sports Commission, Freddy Mwiya, says the NSC is aware of what Team Namibia needs to prepare for the Olympic Games, and is looking at ways in which the government can assist the athletes.Team Namibia has five athletes, namely marathon runner Helalia Johannes, cyclists Vera Looser and Dan Craven, rower Maike Diekmann and boxer Jonas Junias Jonas, who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games slated for 23 July to 8 August.The Paralympic Games will follow, from 24 August to 5 September. No number for Paralympics yet The number of athletes who will be sent to the Paralympics has not been announced yet, as the Namibian Paralympic Committee (NPC) is still waiting for slots from the International Paralympic Committee.“We don't want to give hope to athletes before we get the slots,” NPC secretary-general Michael Hamukwaya had told this paper previously.However, in order for these athletes to perform at their peak, money is needed for the preparations.Rower Diekmann is also looking for funds for preparation, according to the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation.Mwiya met with the representatives of the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC), the NPC and the sport ministry on Thursday to discuss ways of assisting athletes.“All looks positive as we are in the same line and are working together. We had fruitful deliberations,” he said.He added that boxer Jonas might camp in a different country ahead of the Games.Jonas confirmed this, saying he was contacted by the NSC and there is talk that he might be sent to the US or Cuba. He had previously told this publication that he preferred Cuba.The 27-year-old Jonas gained fame in 2014, when he won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games at the age of 20 in Glasgow. In 2018 he won gold at the same Games in Australia. He also participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.He is also an African Games silver medallist (2015, Brazzaville – Republic of Congo) and a bronze medallist in 2019 in Rabat, Morocco. Neighbours better preparedWith Namibia still struggling to prepare its small team, South Africa plans to send close to 228 athletes to the Games, international media report.The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee have announced a multi-year partnership with Mr Price Sport, confirming the retailer as the official apparel sponsor of Team South Africa.The four-year deal encompasses the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the 2023 Africa Games in Accra and the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.Beginning with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the South African Olympic and Paralympic athletes will be wearing locally developed athletic apparel for the first time at the opening ceremonies and on the podium.The Olympic Games is the world's most internationally represented multi-sport event, with 35 sport types and over 200 nations taking part.The Paralympic Games are the largest multi-coded event for athletes with disabilities, covering 22 sport types and over 96 nations taking part.These Games are typically hosted every four years but were delayed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.-limba@namibiansun.com

Working together to fund Tokyo team

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-12

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Working together to fund Tokyo team

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-12

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