The Africa Union Sport Council Region 5 Council of Ministers Meeting got underway in Windhoek yesterday in preparation for the Region 5 Youth Games that Namibia will host in June 2025.
It will be the second time that Namibia hosts the games after their debut in 2006, while Namibia this time was a late replacement for Mozambique, which withdrew as the hosts last year, for unknown reasons.
In her keynote address, Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Agnes Tjongarero said the meeting, running under the theme, ‘A Progressive, Inclusive and Performing Region,” will enable sport ministers from the region to make decisions on pertinent issues affecting sport in the region.
“This is also an opportunity to consider policies and strategies that transform sport into a viable sustainable industry while serving as a conduit for nation building,” she said.
“Our meetings provide direction and impetus to the trajectory of sport in our region. We are therefore grateful that honourable ministers have honoured the invitation to attend the meeting in keeping with our constitution and the mandate of the Council of Ministers. As usual, the clarion call is for us to strengthen compliance matters as a way of upholding good governance,” she added.
With the national elections now over, Tjongarero said preparations for the Region 5 Youth Games will now be accelerated.
“The completion of the elections have given way now for accelerated preparations for the hosting of the 11th edition of the Region 5 Youth Games. We are doing everything possible to give the 2 552 athletes and volunteers a memorable experience in 2025,” she said.
She said the ministers of sport of the region needed to adhere to collective resolutions and to make sure that their athletes do not miss out on ‘life-changing opportunities such as the Region 5 Youth Games.’
Tjongarero added that more opportunities should be provided for women and people with disabilities to excel.
“The Region 5 programmes such as the Women Leadership Programme, Podium Performance Programme, and One4More among others, need us to heighten our attention towards their implementation if we are to record meaningful achievements against our set targets, in particular the need to empower women and girls to participate in sport,” she said.
“It is time to thoroughly reflect on our efforts towards enhancing inclusion of women and girls, children and persons with disabilities in all our physical education sport and recreation programmes and activities. Let us all commit to accelerating inclusion so that we create a better and more tolerant world through sport for persons with all forms of disabilities. In addition, let us now take bold steps in establishing a Regional Coalition on Inclusion to serve as a Community of Parties on matters of equity and inclusion,” she added.
Numerous sport ministers and government representatives from Region 5 nations like Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa are attending the two-day summit taking place at the Windhoek Country Club.
The executive director in the Ministry of Sport, Erastus Haitengela welcomed the participating members saying their presence reflected their commitment to make Region 5 Africa’s leading sport region through innovation and excellence.
“Namibia is proud to host this gathering which comes at a pivotal time as we collectively seek to shape the future of sport development in the region. These meetings are not just routine engagements but essential platforms for collaboration, dialogue and shared learning. They enable us to assess progress, deliberate on emerging issues, and strengthen our collective resolve to achieve the goals set for Region 5,” he said.
“The Government of Namibia has already signed the protocol agreement to host these games, and preparations are well underway. Our local organising committee is hard at work to ensure that we deliver a memorable and successful event that will leave a lasting legacy for the youth of our region,” he added.
At another press conference on Tuesday, meanwhile, the CEO of AUSC Region 5, Stanley Mutoya, confirmed the venues for the Youth Games.
Windhoek will host most of the sporting codes, with the opening ceremony and football taking place at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium; table tennis, karate and judo taking place at the Windhoek Showgrounds; and basketball taking place at the DTS hall.
Swimming and athletics will, however, be hosted in Swakopmund.
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