NNOC adjusts entry criteria for Commonwealth Games

FOR Namibia to win medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) has unveiled the new adjusted qualification criteria for affiliated sport codes.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, NNOC president Agnes Tjongarero said the time has come for Namibia to compete and bring home medals, and not merely go to events to just participate.
She said taxpayers’ money is wasted, and will continue to be wasted if the country sends about 20 to 30 athletes to international events to simply put up an unimpressive performance.
She said the NOOC has raised the bar for the qualification criteria for athletes a little.
Although the affiliated sports codes have not been part and parcel of the adjustment exercise, Tjongarero does not foresee a situation whereby the affiliated codes will object to the new adjusted criteria.
These are the new developed criteria for the Commonwealth Games:
ATHLETES:
Must be Namibian citizens; have signed the NNOC athlete agreement; Conform to NNOC requirements regarding preparations; Make themselves available for all NNOC team activities designated by the Chef de Mission
ARCHERY:
Qualify through regional and continental championships, organized or authorized by FITA. Ranked amongst the top two in Africa,
BADMINTON:
Qualify through regional and continental championships organized or authorized by BWF.Currently ranked amongst the top two in Africa. Standards need to be achieved twice at two different competitions.
BOXING:
Qualify through regional and continental championships organised or authorized by AIBA. Currently ranked amongst the top two in Africa.
The criteria for all other sport codes are the same, and events must be organized or authorised by their individual world sports bodies.
Other sport codes are Cycling, Gymnastics (Artistic and Rhythmic), netball, rugby, shooting, swimming, hockey, squash, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.
Meanwhile, all member codes are invited to identify athletes who have met the above criteria during the period January till the end of June 2009, and to submit the names of such athletes to the NNOC not later than June 30.
The NNOC will verify such submitted information, and inform the members upon the approval of their submissions.
– Nampa