Youth games promote youth development
The National Youth Games aims to inspire a generation of professional athletes
Justicia Shipena
The ministry of sport, youth and national services in collaboration with the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) held its first National Youth Games under the theme of "enhancing the future of a sporting nation" from 10 to 12 May at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.
The sport event attracted a total of 1 800 athletes from all 14 regions who participated in 10 sports code namely; athletics, basketball, boxing, judo, netball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, football and Para-athletics.
The competition was held to help the organisers select a team that will participate in the 2018 Region Five under 20-youth games set to take place in Gaborone, Botswana in December.
After the three day event, the athletes from the Khomas Region was the best overall performers and walked away with 66 medals of which 36 were gold, 18 sliver and 12 bronze medals.
The Erongo Region finished the competition in the second position scooping a total of 27 medals of which 10 gold, 9 sliver and 8 bronze. Kavango East came thirds with 22 medals, which include 9 gold, 7 sliver and 6 bronze.
Coming in the fourth place Omusati Region won 12 medals of which 5 were gold while Otjozondjupa finished the youth games in the fifth place with 13 medals of which 4 were gold.
Athletes from the Omaheke Region failed to win a single medal and thus the region finished in the last place.
According to Emma Katema, the permanent secretary of sports, youth and national services ministry, the games are aimed to promote inclusivity by producing an opportunity for all Namibians to excel and develop their talent.
Katema further added that sport is an enabler to contribute to sustainable development and has the potential to contribute to youth employment and to eradicate poverty.
Speaking at the ceremony Erastus Uutoni, minster of youth, sports and national services, called on corporate Namibia to support youth development. Uutoni shared the proposal of a sport expo, which he said will be a great platform to develop professional sport in Namibia.
"Sport is the answer to unemployment in a society where jobs are limited. Namibians should start seeing sport as a path for employment too, especially because we know that our young people have the talent," he said.
He further stated that this was a good platform for the youth to showcase their talents and provide great opportunities for the youth across the country.
“I want us to do things in the right way and give a chance to young people from every corner of the country and not just the young people of Windhoek," he said.
Speaking to The Zone on Friday, Jacobina Uushona, an athlete who took part in the games and who was also awarded as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Khomas girls’ basketball team, she said that the national youth championship was a great experience and applauded the organisers for taking youth development in sport serious.
"Having to put in so much hard work into preparing for these games shows that sport in Namibia is growing and it has more to offer. I am looking forward to next year's national youth games and my team winning the gold medal for the girls basketball has an image to uphold. We will keep working harder until we meet the other regions at the next games," she said.
The ministry of sport, youth and national services in collaboration with the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) held its first National Youth Games under the theme of "enhancing the future of a sporting nation" from 10 to 12 May at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.
The sport event attracted a total of 1 800 athletes from all 14 regions who participated in 10 sports code namely; athletics, basketball, boxing, judo, netball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, football and Para-athletics.
The competition was held to help the organisers select a team that will participate in the 2018 Region Five under 20-youth games set to take place in Gaborone, Botswana in December.
After the three day event, the athletes from the Khomas Region was the best overall performers and walked away with 66 medals of which 36 were gold, 18 sliver and 12 bronze medals.
The Erongo Region finished the competition in the second position scooping a total of 27 medals of which 10 gold, 9 sliver and 8 bronze. Kavango East came thirds with 22 medals, which include 9 gold, 7 sliver and 6 bronze.
Coming in the fourth place Omusati Region won 12 medals of which 5 were gold while Otjozondjupa finished the youth games in the fifth place with 13 medals of which 4 were gold.
Athletes from the Omaheke Region failed to win a single medal and thus the region finished in the last place.
According to Emma Katema, the permanent secretary of sports, youth and national services ministry, the games are aimed to promote inclusivity by producing an opportunity for all Namibians to excel and develop their talent.
Katema further added that sport is an enabler to contribute to sustainable development and has the potential to contribute to youth employment and to eradicate poverty.
Speaking at the ceremony Erastus Uutoni, minster of youth, sports and national services, called on corporate Namibia to support youth development. Uutoni shared the proposal of a sport expo, which he said will be a great platform to develop professional sport in Namibia.
"Sport is the answer to unemployment in a society where jobs are limited. Namibians should start seeing sport as a path for employment too, especially because we know that our young people have the talent," he said.
He further stated that this was a good platform for the youth to showcase their talents and provide great opportunities for the youth across the country.
“I want us to do things in the right way and give a chance to young people from every corner of the country and not just the young people of Windhoek," he said.
Speaking to The Zone on Friday, Jacobina Uushona, an athlete who took part in the games and who was also awarded as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Khomas girls’ basketball team, she said that the national youth championship was a great experience and applauded the organisers for taking youth development in sport serious.
"Having to put in so much hard work into preparing for these games shows that sport in Namibia is growing and it has more to offer. I am looking forward to next year's national youth games and my team winning the gold medal for the girls basketball has an image to uphold. We will keep working harder until we meet the other regions at the next games," she said.
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