Athletics course launched for 2009

THE 16th edition of the annual Air Namibia Athletics Course and Training Camp was officially launched in Windhoek yesterday.

Sports consultant Quinton-Steele Botes said January 2009 marks the 16th edition of the event that has been sponsored by Air Namibia since its inception in 1994. He said the event, slated for the Independence Stadium from January 6-9, serves as a platform for all athletes to develop and grow their abilities as many of the top athletes in Namibia have benefited from this programme in the past.Next year’s Air Namibia Athletics Course and Training Camp offers the participants the expertise of 20 head coaches, as well as the participation of specialist coach Klaus Bartonietz, who has been instrumental in past training camps.The event will have four Springbok coaches from neighbouring South Africa, who are Steve Rautenbach, Christo Staander, Hugo Badenhorst and Charley Strohmenger.Locally, the training camp will have 15 coaches who hold the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) qualification, of which a third are women.”Clubs, teachers and parent coaches are invited to attend this event to work with head coaches and refine their skills.They will be awarded an attendance certificate for their participation,” said Botes.Topics that will be covered during the event are teaching progressions of the event; technique analysis; video analysis; programming and periodisation; weight training; as well as testing and nutrition.Air Namibia as the main sponsor has availed five flight tickets to the value of N$30 000 to the five coaches who will be coming to Namibia.The event which started in 1994 has reached more than 4000 children and hundreds of teachers and coaches.Botes said two orphanages will also be invited to attend the event.The N$ 30 000 flight tickets were presented here to Botes by Air Namibia’s corporate communications manager, Mia de Klerk.De Klerk thanked Botes for his continued positive contribution to the development of athletics in the country.The event will be co-sponsored by Avis, Namibia Beverages, Starlight, Wimpy, Bank Windhoek and Engen.NampaHe said the event, slated for the Independence Stadium from January 6-9, serves as a platform for all athletes to develop and grow their abilities as many of the top athletes in Namibia have benefited from this programme in the past.Next year’s Air Namibia Athletics Course and Training Camp offers the participants the expertise of 20 head coaches, as well as the participation of specialist coach Klaus Bartonietz, who has been instrumental in past training camps.The event will have four Springbok coaches from neighbouring South Africa, who are Steve Rautenbach, Christo Staander, Hugo Badenhorst and Charley Strohmenger.Locally, the training camp will have 15 coaches who hold the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) qualification, of which a third are women.”Clubs, teachers and parent coaches are invited to attend this event to work with head coaches and refine their skills.They will be awarded an attendance certificate for their participation,” said Botes.Topics that will be covered during the event are teaching progressions of the event; technique analysis; video analysis; programming and periodisation; weight training; as well as testing and nutrition.Air Namibia as the main sponsor has availed five flight tickets to the value of N$30 000 to the five coaches who will be coming to Namibia.The event which started in 1994 has reached more than 4000 children and hundreds of teachers and coaches.Botes said two orphanages will also be invited to attend the event.The N$ 30 000 flight tickets were presented here to Botes by Air Namibia’s corporate communications manager, Mia de Klerk.De Klerk thanked Botes for his continued positive contribution to the development of athletics in the country.The event will be co-sponsored by Avis, Namibia Beverages, Starlight, Wimpy, Bank Windhoek and Engen.Nampa