Five athletes secure participation in Youth Olympic Games

FIVE Namibian athletes have secured places at the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) slated for August 14 to 26 in Singapore.

Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) executive member Joan Smit said at a media briefing on Tuesday that 16-year-old Abraham Louw was the first athlete to qualify for the world event.Louw qualified after a brilliant performance at the African Championships held in Cape Town, South Africa last December. He will compete in the triathlon.According to Smit, four other athletes qualified on ‘universality’ or wild cards. They are Jason Afrikaner (wrestling), Quinton Deli (100m, 200m freestyle swimming), Julia Hamdjevene (100m sprint) and gymnast Michelay Solomon (trampoline). The number of athletes is expected to increase, as more athletes are anticipated to compete at junior world events sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) before August.Meanwhile, despite failing to make public the cost of the different entry tickets to the event, the NNOC called on the public to contact it if they want to purchase tickets. The NNOC has, in the meantime, also contracted the services of the Welwitschia Travel Agency to arrange different travelling packages for the public.Welwitschia Travel Management Consultant Debbie Louw informed the gathering that the travel packages would include flight tickets, accommodation and transportation while in Singapore. The packages will cost N$19 000 but could differ, depending on individual preferences.The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will receive some 5 000 athletes and officials from the 205 National Olympic Committees, along with an estimated 1 200 media representatives, 20 000 local and international volunteers, and more than 500 000 spectators.Young athletes aged between 14 and 18 years will compete in 26 sports disciplines, and also take part in the Culture and Education Programmes. The Singapore 2010 YOG aim to inspire youth around the world to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. It will create a lasting sports, cultural and education legacy for Singapore and youths from around the world, as well as enhance and elevate the sporting culture locally and regionally. – Nampa

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