WINDHOEK – Deputy Director of Sports Shivute Katamba says athletes who manage to bring back medals from the Paralympic Games will receive monetary rewards.
A gold medal guarantees N$100 000, silver equals N$70 000 while a bronze medal winner will receive N$40 000.Namibia’s five athletes accompanied by one guide left for the United Kingdom last Thursday ahead of the 2012 Paralympic Games which will take place from August 29 to September 9 in London.The athletes are Ananias Shikongo (100m, 200m and 400m), Martin Aloysius (200m and 400m), Johanna Benson (100m, 200m and long jump), Reginald Benade (shot put and discus), Ruben Soroseb (power lifting) and Even Tjiviju (Shikongo’s guide).The national coach of the Paralympic team, Mike Hamukwaya, said the athletes were surprised by the announcement, and are looking forward to competing in the Games.’We have no injuries, and our team is very motivated to bring medals home,’ he said.Their early arrival in the United Kingdom will help them to acclimatise and attend training before the Games start, Hamukwaya added. The training facilities at the Games provide athletes with high-quality and accessible facilities before the event kicks off.According to Hamukwaya, the facilities allow athletes to reach peak physical and mental condition before the Games.Over the years, Namibian Paralympic athletes have consistently won medals at numerous international events.Benade brought home a bronze medal in the discus at the 2008 Paralympic Games, while another memorable performance was that of Shikongo, who won a gold medal in the 200 metres during the 2011 All-Africa Games (AAG).A Paralympics team also garnered 19 medals at an event held in Durban, South Africa, earlier this year, when Shikongo once again claimed three gold medals.Hamukwaya said Benade is a gold medal hopeful for the 2012 Paralympic Games, while Benson stands a good chance in the long jump.Hamukwaya is expected to join the team on August 23.The Deputy Minister of Sport, Pohamba Shifeta, will join the 19-member delegation.According to international media, with less than 17 days to go until the opening ceremony, more than 2,1 million tickets out of a total of 2,5 million have been sold, with organisers hoping this could be the first sell-out Paralympic Games in its 52-year history.The previous record of 1,8 million ticket sales at Beijing in 2008 has already been overtaken. – Nampa
