All-girl team off to Youth Olympics
A group of athletes, coaches and managers left for Argentina on Saturday to participate in the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games.
A team of hockey players, one gymnast and an archer were wished luck by the minister of sport in Windhoek on Thursday before their departure to the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) on Saturday.
The competition will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 6 to 18 October and will see the world's best young athletes going for gold in 32 sport disciplines.
In addition athletes will participate in a wide range of cultural and educational activities.
Minister Erastus Uutoni said athletes were responding positively to the government's endeavours to promote and empower women in sport.
He said much needs to be done to bring women athletes to the same level as men, as they have been in the backseat for years.
“Let's empower women as sport is important. Let us attack challenges ahead of us. Go and represent the country well and carry the flag with pride. However, also carry your study material and read when you get time,” Uutoni told the athletes.
The minister also touched on two projects in the pipeline from the sport ministry. “We are busy selling the idea of a sport expo where various institutions will exhibit various products, projects and programmes which they can offer. We are also busy with the museum of sport where Namibian athletes' triumphs will be on display. These ideas are good as they will reorganise sport in the nation,” Uutoni said. The Namibian National Olympic Committee's secretary-general, Joan Smit, said it was hard for the athletes to qualify for the Games. “The criteria which were set were high and the athletes needed to compete in international events to qualify. “The hockey girls had to compete against 52 countries in Algiers to come out tops,” Smit said. Close to 3 920 athletes from 206 countries will gather for the Games, which are held every four years and are open to athletes aged 15 to 18. The programme features 32 sports disciplines, including some new Olympic sports: BMX freestyle, kite-boarding and beach handball.
The delegation
Archery: Quin Reddig
Gymnastics: Thalia Theresia Loveira.
Hockey: Sonet Crous, Carien van Rooyen, Kiane-Che Cormack, Jahntwa Kruger, Tarmarie Myburgh, Kaela Louise Meta Schimming, Cele Wessels, Joane van Rooyen , Danja Meyer, Rachel Hayley Finch, Vicky Stiemert and Amber Dercsen.
Management: Abner Xoagub (president) and Joan Smit.
Coaches/Managers: Frank Reddig (archery), Dione Dichtl (gymnastics), Shayne Cormack, Manda Myburgh and Conrad Wessels (hockey).
Officials: June Shimuoshili and Joshua Sharply.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
The competition will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 6 to 18 October and will see the world's best young athletes going for gold in 32 sport disciplines.
In addition athletes will participate in a wide range of cultural and educational activities.
Minister Erastus Uutoni said athletes were responding positively to the government's endeavours to promote and empower women in sport.
He said much needs to be done to bring women athletes to the same level as men, as they have been in the backseat for years.
“Let's empower women as sport is important. Let us attack challenges ahead of us. Go and represent the country well and carry the flag with pride. However, also carry your study material and read when you get time,” Uutoni told the athletes.
The minister also touched on two projects in the pipeline from the sport ministry. “We are busy selling the idea of a sport expo where various institutions will exhibit various products, projects and programmes which they can offer. We are also busy with the museum of sport where Namibian athletes' triumphs will be on display. These ideas are good as they will reorganise sport in the nation,” Uutoni said. The Namibian National Olympic Committee's secretary-general, Joan Smit, said it was hard for the athletes to qualify for the Games. “The criteria which were set were high and the athletes needed to compete in international events to qualify. “The hockey girls had to compete against 52 countries in Algiers to come out tops,” Smit said. Close to 3 920 athletes from 206 countries will gather for the Games, which are held every four years and are open to athletes aged 15 to 18. The programme features 32 sports disciplines, including some new Olympic sports: BMX freestyle, kite-boarding and beach handball.
The delegation
Archery: Quin Reddig
Gymnastics: Thalia Theresia Loveira.
Hockey: Sonet Crous, Carien van Rooyen, Kiane-Che Cormack, Jahntwa Kruger, Tarmarie Myburgh, Kaela Louise Meta Schimming, Cele Wessels, Joane van Rooyen , Danja Meyer, Rachel Hayley Finch, Vicky Stiemert and Amber Dercsen.
Management: Abner Xoagub (president) and Joan Smit.
Coaches/Managers: Frank Reddig (archery), Dione Dichtl (gymnastics), Shayne Cormack, Manda Myburgh and Conrad Wessels (hockey).
Officials: June Shimuoshili and Joshua Sharply.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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