Govt rewards sporting success with N$774 000

The Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), with support from the sports ministry, rewarded five sports bodies whose athletes won medals at African and world-level competitions with a combined N$774 000 in Windhoek yesterday.NSC chief administrator Dr Freddy Mwiya confirmed during a press conference that the allocations were issued under the Cabinet-approved National Sport Reward Policy, introduced in April 2018.Mwiya said the policy ensures that rewards are issued consistently and on merit, rather than solely on the colour of the medal won.“It does not mean that when you just win a gold medal, you are awarded. You must first meet the requirements,” he said.The amount awarded depends on factors such as the level and status of the competition, the number of participating countries and whether an athlete won gold, silver or bronze.Covered competitionsMwiya explained that the policy covers competitions such as the Olympic Games, world championships, Commonwealth Games, African Games, Special Olympics World Games and Paralympic Games.Junior athletes do not receive cash rewards under the policy but are instead considered for scholarships intended to support their development.NSC finance manager Christophina Hangalo said each event and medal claim undergoes a verification process before payment is approved.Hangalo said the process is intended to ensure that the allocation of rewards remains “fair, transparent and accountable”.Largest single allocationSpecial Olympics Namibia received the largest single allocation of N$250 000 following the Unified Gladiators’ gold-medal performance in Division Two at the Unified Football World Cup in France earlier this month.Of the amount, N$150 000 was allocated to the athletes and N$100 000 to the team management.Athletics Namibia received N$40 000, with N$30 000 going to the athletes and N$10 000 to the management.The allocation follows Ryan Williams’ gold medal in the men’s discus throw and Talaya Vorster’s joint bronze in the women’s pole vault at the 24th Confederation of African Athletics Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana in May.The Namibia Wrestling Federation was awarded N$88 000, of which N$70 000 was allocated to the athletes and N$18 000 to the management.This follows Lisias Shipopyeni’s silver medal, Ester Abraham’s silver and Lazarus Haimbodi’s bronze at the African Wrestling Championships held in April and May.Shipopyeni and Abraham added further silver medals at the African Beach Wrestling Championships in May.Other allocationsThe Namibia Full-Contact Martial Arts Federation received N$176 000, with N$130 000 allocated to the athletes and N$46 000 to the management.The rewards follow the federation’s two gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the International Budokai Union Kyodo Budokai World Championships in Poland in April.Courtney Melani won gold medals in kata and kumite, while Oletu Mbwalala earned silver in kata and bronze in kumite. Miguel Rafael also won silver in kata and bronze in kumite.The Namibia Inline Hockey Federation received N$220 000, of which N$200 000 was allocated to the athletes and N$20 000 to the management.The reward follows the men’s national inline hockey team’s bronze-medal finish at The World Games in China last August.Mwiya admitted that the inline hockey team had inadvertently been left off the recipients’ list when the commission paid more than N$1 million in rewards to sports bodies in February.“We forgot to put you on that list, so forgive me. Today you are part and parcel of the first-quarter allocation,” he said.Sports ministry acting director in the Directorate of Sport Hendricks Mapere said rewarding athletes and coaches formed part of government’s commitment to creating an environment in which Namibian sport could thrive.“Government is committed to putting its money where its mouth is,” Mapere said.– mariud@nsh.com.na

Govt rewards sporting success with N$774 000

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-22

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Govt rewards sporting success with N$774 000

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-22

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