The Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) and the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) have signed an agreement to strengthen the governance, transparency and credibility of the Namibia Annual Sport Award.
“Today, we gather to sign not merely a document, but a declaration of shared purpose,“ NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya said at the signing ceremony last week.
Mwiya said the sport award represents a deliberate and strategic step towards strengthening the credibility, transparency, and prestige of the national sport recognition framework.
“This agreement is founded on mutual respect for our distinct mandates. It acknowledges the NSC’s statutory authority under the Namibia Sports Act to govern and deliver the awards, while simultaneously recognising the NNOC’s vital role as the custodian of the Olympic Movement in Namibia.
“By clearly defining our respective responsibilities, we are building a partnership that is both principled and practical,” Mwiya said.
“Strategically, this agreement achieves several key outcomes. First, it embeds Olympic representation directly into the governance of the awards.”
Mwiya said the NNOC’s right to nominate a voting representative to the adjudication committee and to assign staff to the local organising committee ensures that the Olympic voice is not an afterthought, but an integral part of the process.
“Second, it guarantees technical integrity. The NNOC’s expertise in verifying international participation records and its consultation on the scoring matrix will ensure that achievements at Olympic, Commonwealth, and other major multi-sport events are weighted fairly and accurately. Third, it reinforces institutional collaboration.”
Mwiya added that through biannual review meetings, coordinated communications, and a clear dispute resolution mechanism, they are creating a framework for sustained cooperation that will outlast any single awards cycle.
“I wish to commend the leadership of the NNOC, particularly its chief executive, Anri Parker, for their constructive engagement throughout this process.”
He said the agreement reflects a shared understanding that the celebration of the athletes’ achievements must be beyond reproach.
“It also reflects our joint commitment to good governance, as enshrined in both the Namibia Sports Act and the Olympic Charter.
“As we sign this agreement, let us remember that our ultimate beneficiaries are the athletes, coaches, and federations who dedicate their lives to sport,” he said.
“They deserve an awards system that is fair, credible, and worthy of their sacrifices. This cooperative agreement delivers exactly that.”
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