IOC president says Namibia doing right by sport

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president-elect Kirsty Coventry praises the Namibian government for making sport a priority.

This is after newly sworn-in president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah reiterated her administration’s plans to fast-track sport development in the country when she met with Coventry at State House on Saturday.

Coventry was in Windhoek for a three-day continental Athletes’ Forum of Africa over the weekend.

Ndaitwah said the sport industry is key to the socio-economic emancipation of the youth who make up the majority of the population and sporting sector.

Namibia’s first woman president emphasised the need for increased investment in sport infrastructure and youth-focused initiatives, noting that the development of young athletes, access to high-performance training, and participation in international competitions are essential for advancing the nation’s sporting excellence.

“Sport is not just an activity for us — it is a major industry contributing to national mental health, youth empowerment, and economic development,” Nandi-Ndaitwah stated.

The government has allocated N$200 million towards basic sport infrastructure in this year’s budget and the same amount for constructing category two stadiums across the country.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia would welcome collaboration with the IOC on various sport development programmes, including technical support, skills transfer, training, coaching and grassroots initiatives, underscoring that investing in sport infrastructure is foundational to empowering the youth.

“If we empower our young people through the right facilities, they will have the capacity to take care of us,” the president stressed.

Coventry, the first woman and African to be elected as IOC president, was pleased to meet Nandi-Ndaitwah, whom she lauded for championing Namibia’s commitment to sport, especially the focus on infrastructure development.

“This is the first time that the ministry has been given a dedicated budget for infrastructure and I want to say thank you very much from all of us on this side of the table,” Coventry said.

“From the Olympic movement, infrastructure is key in the development of our sports across Africa. So, we’re very happy to hear that you, with your wisdom and your knowledge, are giving the support right away to the sport movement and to your minister.”

ATHLETES FORUM

Windhoek took centre stage this weekend as host of the largest platform for sport debate on the continent.

The event was organised by the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) in conjunction with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (Anoca).

The 5th Continental Athletes’ Forum served as a critical space for athlete development where participants discussed key issues such as strengthening training and preparation programmes for athletes, improving the living conditions and career prospects of athletes, promoting gender equality and inclusion in sport, and optimising support for athletes in their transition to post-sport careers.

“The forum is a crucial step to strengthen the voice of African athletes,” said Anoca president Mustapha Berraf says.

He is confident that the discussions will bring about a more equitable and efficient sport ecosystem.

“We must give athletes all the arguments they need to reach the ceiling of high-level sport. . . So it is a question of leading the thinking around the management of athletes’ careers, their post-career and their socio-professional life, organise and design with them the strategies specific to their needs and requirements,” Berraf says.

NNOC president Ndeulipulwa Hamutumwa hopes Coventry’s new role will help the continent “shine among the nations of the world” and help promote the African agenda.

“Having somebody from Africa, that is an opportunity for somebody to be able to understand our conditions, backgrounds and our history. We envisaged that this leadership will be able to come closer to our issues at home,” Hamutwumwa says.