Rogge to visit Namibia

NAMIBIA will be in the international spotlight again with the visit of International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge on Sunday.

Rogge is expected here following the visit of the International Rugby Board’s Webb Ellis trophy last week. It will be the first time that Rogge visits Namibia since he became president in 2001, but it will be the second visit of an IOC chief to Namibia after former president Juan Antonio Samaranch’s visit in 1996.Former Olympic silver medallist and now a member of the IOC Athletes Commission, Frank Fredericks, made the announcement at a media briefing yesterday.Fredericks, who is an executive member of the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC), said Rogge will meet with NNOC officials, representatives of the various sports federations as well as members of the business community on Monday.He will also have an audience with Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula and President Hifikepunye Pohamba, after which he will take a tour to some of the sports facilities in Olympia and the Olympic House in Suiderhof.Fredericks said the NNOC will use the opportunity to lobby for more sports facilities in the country.Rogge is an orthopaedic surgeon by profession.He is the eighth president of the IOC after Juan Antonio Samaranch, who led the IOC since 1980.NampaIt will be the first time that Rogge visits Namibia since he became president in 2001, but it will be the second visit of an IOC chief to Namibia after former president Juan Antonio Samaranch’s visit in 1996.Former Olympic silver medallist and now a member of the IOC Athletes Commission, Frank Fredericks, made the announcement at a media briefing yesterday.Fredericks, who is an executive member of the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC), said Rogge will meet with NNOC officials, representatives of the various sports federations as well as members of the business community on Monday.He will also have an audience with Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula and President Hifikepunye Pohamba, after which he will take a tour to some of the sports facilities in Olympia and the Olympic House in Suiderhof.Fredericks said the NNOC will use the opportunity to lobby for more sports facilities in the country.Rogge is an orthopaedic surgeon by profession.He is the eighth president of the IOC after Juan Antonio Samaranch, who led the IOC since 1980.Nampa