Coca-Cola sponsors Namibian Paralympics team

COCA-COLA Namibia Bottling Company, through its product Powerade, on Friday announced a sponsorship of about N$60 000 to the Namibian Paralympic team that will compete at the London Paralympic Games in August.

The sponsorship consisted of training gear, athletics equipment like starting blocks, and cool drinks and supplements. The Namibian team spent the past month attending a high performance centre in Stellenbosch, South Africa to prepare for the Paralympic Games.
At a press conference announcing the sponsorship on Friday, Frik Oosthuizen of Namibia Beverages said they were proud to be associated with the Namibian Paralympics team.
“Coca-Cola is very proud to be associated with such a group of distinguished people. We have no doubt that you will return with medals and we will remain associated with you on a permanent basis in future,” he said to much applause.
Oosthuizen encouraged the athletes to do their best and believe in themselves.
“Every successful person in life first has to believe in him or herself. But you are also doing this for those who believe in you, like your family and friends, your team mates and your country. Go and make us proud - we believe in you as the ambassadors of the land of the brave,” he said.
The Deputy Minister of National Service, Sport and Culture, Pohamba Shifeta thanked Coca-Cola for their sponsorship and for their support of sport in Namibia for many years.
“We have put our hope on these athletes, therefore your support is very timely. These athletes have made us proud because they have always come back with medals in the past,” he said.
Shifeta said that sport should be seen as a human rights issue.
“We should regard sport as a human rights issue, it’s not just limited to the playing field. Our programs that we do in collaboration with the private sector are aimed at benefitting the athletes, because they continue to make us proud and therefore we should acknowledge their commitment and achievements,” he said.
The Chef de Mission of the Namibian Olympic Games team Ndelipula Hamutumwa said he expected the athletes to do well at the Paralympic Games.
“I’ve seen these athletes progress over a number of years and I think they can flourish and win medals in London,” he said.
The Namibian Paralympics team consists of Reginald Benade, Ananias Shikongo and his guide Even Tjiviju, Johanna Benson, Martin Aloysius and Reginald Benade.
– namibiasport.com.na

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