NNOC denounces racism in sport

THE Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) has denounced racism in sport across the world and called on all Namibians to shun this practice.

Eliphas Shipanga, the secretary general of the Namibia National Olympic Committee, said at a press conference yesterday that racism had no place in Namibian sport. “In the light of recent occurrences of racist acts at various stadiums across the world, the NNOC calls on the Namibian sports community to ban such acts and practices from within its circles.The NNOC urges all stakeholders of the Olympic Movement to work towards the complete ban of such irresponsible acts and pronouncements across the country,” said Shipanga.Shipanga said his association was committed to fighting racism in sport, explaining that sport offered a beacon to future generations.”NNOC recalls its deep-seated commitment to make sport the most reliable vector among the young people of Namibia and beyond of the tenets of progress, modernity and brotherhood that have to serve as beacons to future generations.According to the Olympic fundamental principles the practice of sport is a human right.Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with the ideals of the Olympic Movement,” said Shipanga.He said it was disheartening to see that some of the perpetrators of racism are individuals who are role models to society.”Some of the perpetrators are individuals who should be role models but unfortunately they indulge in acts that only cause utter dismay, desolation and disgust.The NNOC vehemently denounces and deplores all such repressive behaviour,” he said.He said international sports bodies should put in place mechanisms to combat racism.”NNOC calls on the president of the International Olympic Committee, the presidents of the Association of National Olympic Committees, the presidents of international sports federations and all stakeholders of the global sports community to put in place appropriate mechanisms and measures designed to radically ban these scourges that plague humankind,” he said.namibiasport.com.na”In the light of recent occurrences of racist acts at various stadiums across the world, the NNOC calls on the Namibian sports community to ban such acts and practices from within its circles.The NNOC urges all stakeholders of the Olympic Movement to work towards the complete ban of such irresponsible acts and pronouncements across the country,” said Shipanga.Shipanga said his association was committed to fighting racism in sport, explaining that sport offered a beacon to future generations.”NNOC recalls its deep-seated commitment to make sport the most reliable vector among the young people of Namibia and beyond of the tenets of progress, modernity and brotherhood that have to serve as beacons to future generations.According to the Olympic fundamental principles the practice of sport is a human right.Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with the ideals of the Olympic Movement,” said Shipanga.He said it was disheartening to see that some of the perpetrators of racism are individuals who are role models to society.”Some of the perpetrators are individuals who should be role models but unfortunately they indulge in acts that only cause utter dismay, desolation and disgust.The NNOC vehemently denounces and deplores all such repressive behaviour,” he said.He said international sports bodies should put in place mechanisms to combat racism.”NNOC calls on the president of the International Olympic Committee, the presidents of the Association of National Olympic Committees, the presidents of international sports federations and all stakeholders of the global sports community to put in place appropriate mechanisms and measures designed to radically ban these scourges that plague humankind,” he said.namibiasport.com.na