Namibians gear up for Olympics

WINDHOEK – With just 38 days to go to the 2008 Olympic Games, Namibian athletes and administrators are hard at work preparing for the global sports showpiece set for August 8-24 in Beijing, China.

Team Namibia is scheduled to depart on 31 July to acclimatize and for the athletes to round off their preparations. Most of the Namibian athletes are preparing outside the country, with the three boxers Japhet Uutoni, Julius Indongo and Desmond Kasuto based in Tunisia, from where they travel regularly for competitions elsewhere.The two cyclists, Eric Hofmann and Mannie Heymans, are training in Asia.Shottist Gaby Ahrens returned from a training camp in Australia last week and is due to travel to Germany soon to take part in the World Cup there, while the two marathon runners Helelia Johannes and Beata Naigambo are training in Namibia, but will participate in various competitions in South Africa.The latest edition to the team but an old hand in her discipline, middle-distance runner Agnes Samaria, who re-qualified for the 1500m on June 14 in Morocco, has lined up races in Spain and Italy until July 11.Among the athletes still hoping to qualify for the Summer Olympics are long-jumper Stefan Louw and sprinter Hitjivirue Kaanjuka, who are based in South Africa.The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) is assisting all athletes to qualify, and have also made N$57 000 available to each athlete who has qualified to use in their preparations, while the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) has also set aside funds for the athletes’ preparations.On the administrative front, the NNOC has already submitted all accreditation forms to the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee (BOCOG) long before the due date of April 15 this year.Chef de Mission Joan Smit told Nampa recently that accreditations have been made for dignitaries, the NNOC president and Secretary-General, Chef de Mission, General Team Manager, team officials, athletes, media representative and medical officer.Smit recently attended a pre-delegation registration meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, organized by the BOCOG to confirm all accreditations by name, title, status and discipline.She said athletes who have reached the qualifying criteria will be confirmed, while athletes who did not make the qualifying criteria and with no other qualifying options will be withdrawn from the accreditation status report.Namibia has entered a provisional team of 10 athletes.Athletes still have until July 23 to qualify.Japanese athletics’ wear manufacturers Mizuno will once again sponsor Team Namibia with competition outfits.Smit said the sponsorship was made possible by Namibia’ former Olympian and member of the IOC and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Frank Fredericks.NampaMost of the Namibian athletes are preparing outside the country, with the three boxers Japhet Uutoni, Julius Indongo and Desmond Kasuto based in Tunisia, from where they travel regularly for competitions elsewhere.The two cyclists, Eric Hofmann and Mannie Heymans, are training in Asia.Shottist Gaby Ahrens returned from a training camp in Australia last week and is due to travel to Germany soon to take part in the World Cup there, while the two marathon runners Helelia Johannes and Beata Naigambo are training in Namibia, but will participate in various competitions in South Africa.The latest edition to the team but an old hand in her discipline, middle-distance runner Agnes Samaria, who re-qualified for the 1500m on June 14 in Morocco, has lined up races in Spain and Italy until July 11.Among the athletes still hoping to qualify for the Summer Olympics are long-jumper Stefan Louw and sprinter Hitjivirue Kaanjuka, who are based in South Africa.The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) is assisting all athletes to qualify, and have also made N$57 000 available to each athlete who has qualified to use in their preparations, while the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) has also set aside funds for the athletes’ preparations.On the administrative front, the NNOC has already submitted all accreditation forms to the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee (BOCOG) long before the due date of April 15 this year.Chef de Mission Joan Smit told Nampa recently that accreditations have been made for dignitaries, the NNOC president and Secretary-General, Chef de Mission, General Team Manager, team officials, athletes, media representative and medical officer.Smit recently attended a pre-delegation registration meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, organized by the BOCOG to confirm all accreditations by name, title, status and discipline.She said athletes who have reached the qualifying criteria will be confirmed, while athletes who did not make the qualifying criteria and with no other qualifying options will be withdrawn from the accreditation status report.Namibia has entered a provisional team of 10 athletes.Athletes still have until July 23 to qualify.Japanese athletics’ wear manufacturers Mizuno will once again sponsor Team Namibia with competition outfits.Smit said the sponsorship was made possible by Namibia’ former Olympian and member of the IOC and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Frank Fredericks.Nampa