No racism in sport – Mogane

THE Namibia Sport Commission’s (NSC) Chief Administrator, Rusten Mogane, says there is no racism in sport, despite the fact that some sport codes are represented by a certain racial group.

In an interview with Nampa yesterday, Mogane said the Commission’s objective is to have previously disadvantaged groups integrated in the various sport codes to have equal representation at national level. He pointed out hockey and tennis as fine examples of integration in sport, especially with regard to their development programmes in the regions.He described the representation in hockey and tennis as visible.According to Mogane, the Affirmative Action Act also applies to sport, and since Independence the playing field has been level for sports persons.In its fight to have equal representation at all levels, Mogane said the NSC is currently busy drafting a blueprint for the development of sport codes.Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) President Agnes Tjongarero said historically some sport codes such as equestrian sport and shooting were predominantly white.”Since Independence we have been telling people to change, but sometimes it’s difficult.Sport coaches and administrators are volunteers and we have pleaded with them to integrate.I wrote letters urging them to integrate but we face resistance,” she said.Tjongarero, however, noted that codes such as soccer, boxing and basketball were now predominantly black.Tjongarero asked why there were no white athletes in these sport codes, adding that if nothing was done then it would be up to the policymakers to direct the way.”Various national sport bodies are just implementers and not policy makers,” she said.NampaHe pointed out hockey and tennis as fine examples of integration in sport, especially with regard to their development programmes in the regions.He described the representation in hockey and tennis as visible.According to Mogane, the Affirmative Action Act also applies to sport, and since Independence the playing field has been level for sports persons.In its fight to have equal representation at all levels, Mogane said the NSC is currently busy drafting a blueprint for the development of sport codes.Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) President Agnes Tjongarero said historically some sport codes such as equestrian sport and shooting were predominantly white.”Since Independence we have been telling people to change, but sometimes it’s difficult.Sport coaches and administrators are volunteers and we have pleaded with them to integrate.I wrote letters urging them to integrate but we face resistance,” she said.Tjongarero, however, noted that codes such as soccer, boxing and basketball were now predominantly black.Tjongarero asked why there were no white athletes in these sport codes, adding that if nothing was done then it would be up to the policymakers to direct the way.”Various national sport bodies are just implementers and not policy makers,” she said.Nampa