NAMIBIA National Olympic Committee (NNOC) chief executive Anri Parkersays the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar,Senegal, must not be viewed as the end of an athlete’s development journey.
Namibia will field 12 athletes competing in seven disciplines at the games scheduled for 31 October to 13 November. “For the NNOC, Dakar 2026 forms part of a longer-term high-performance pathway, with the Los Angeles 2028
Olympic Games and future Commonwealth Games among the important international milestones “We are working towards stronger
collaboration with national federations to identify promising athletes, monitor their development and support their progression through junior, u23 and senior competition structures.
“Our approach includes strengthening coaching development, accessing Olympic Solidarity opportunities, facilitating international partnerships, supporting training exchanges and improving access to high-performance services,” Parker says. She says the experience gained in Dakar should inform each athlete’s next development phase, including technical improvements, physical development, competitive exposure and longer-term performance targets.
“Not every youth Olympian will immediately progress to senior Olympic qualification. Athlete development requires patience, continuity and appropriate investment.
“The critical issue is ensuring that young athletes do not disappear from the development system once they return from an international event,” Parker says.
She says Dakar must be a stepping stone, not a finishing line to the young
athletes.
Namibia’s participation in Dakar is made possible through a combination of government support, the international
Olympic support framework and other partners.
“We wish to express particular appreciation to the government, through the Ministry of Education, Innovation,
Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, for its support of Team Namibia and international sporting participation.
“We also recognise the role of the International Olympic Committee,Olympic Solidarity, sporting federations, technical partners and the families who continue to invest significant personal resources in their children’s sporting development,” she says.
“However, financing a delegation to attend major games is only one part of the challenge.”
Parker says the greater challenge is financing the years of development required before an athlete reaches the
Olympic stage.
“Namibia continues to face gaps in access to suitable training facilities,specialist coaching, international competition opportunities, sport science,
athlete medical services, equipment and consistent financial support.
“These challenges are particularly significant for young athletes outside major urban centres and for families who cannot independently finance the costs of competitive sport,” Parker says.
She says the NNOC is placing increased emphasis on corporate partnerships and resource mobilization,
supported by its longer-term commercial
strategy.
“We want to move beyond an approach where funding is sought only when athletes qualify for a major event.
“Our ambition is to develop sustainable partnerships that support athletes throughout their development journey.”
She says sport’s recognition as a national priority under Namibia’s sixth National Development Plan provides an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation between government, the
private sector and the sporting com-
munity.
“Our challenge is not simply to find the money to send athletes to competitions; it’s to build a system that produces internationally competitive athletes
consistently.”
She says the official send-off of the athletes recently at State House is a reminder that Team Namibia represents
much more than the 12 athletes scheduled to compete in Dakar.
“Behind each athlete stands a network of parents, coaches, teachers, national
federations, volunteers and communities who have contributed to their development. “We are grateful to the president
for recognising these young athletes and the importance of their participation in
this historic event.” Parker says president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s support sends a strong message that youth development and sporting excellence deserve national attention.
“We must now translate that recognition into sustained opportunities for young people throughout Namibia.” She says the Youth Olympic Games are about performance, but they are equally about education, friendship, leadership, cultural exchange and the values of the Olympic Movement. “We want our athletes to compete proudly, conduct themselves with integrity and return home ready to inspire the next generation.” She says that 12 athletes may be a small delegation, but the dreams the athletes carry represent the entire nation.
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