Van Wyk axed from Olympic squad – A matter of principle says Agnes

THE decision to exclude sprinter Christie van Wyk from the Namibian Olympic squad was a matter of principle, the executive member of the Namibia Sport Commission, Agnes Tjongarero, confirmed yesterday.

Tjongarero, who is also the President of the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC), said the commission had taken the decision as, in the past, van Wyk had shown little interest in representing his country at other major international events, despite the Government spending money to get him to those events. Tjongarero said the decision of the commission was a matter of principle and it should serve as an example to other athletes who have such ambitions.Van Wyk, a 100-metre runner who studies in the United States of America, was left out of the initial squad of six athletes who will represent Namibia at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, in August.Tjongarero said the athlete had failed to represent the country at the All Africa Games in Abuja last year, giving no substantive reasons despite numerous attempts by the athletics officials to get him to the Games.””It is a matter of honour to represent your country and the Government spends a lot of money in trying to get the athletes to compete,” she said.In an earlier report, Director of Sport in the Ministry of Basic Education Sport and Culture Dr. Vetumbuavi Veii, said it served no purpose to send athletes to the international showpiece event if they didn’t want to represent their country in other regional competitions, especially when they were held in Africa.Veii was quoted as saying that such athletes should not be considered as they disregarded the status of the African competitions.At this stage, five of the athletes who will compete at the Games are currently abroad, preparing for the Games which will kick off on August 13.The only athlete still in Namibia is Friedhelm Sack, who will compete in the air-pistol shooting event.Boxer Paulus Ambuda left late last week for a further training in Manchester, England, before he heads to Athens.Mannie Heymans, who will cycle for the country, is currently competing in the Trans Alps in Europe, while both runners Frank Fredericks and Agnes Samaria are also preparing on the continent.Wrestler Nico Jacobs is getting himself ready in Canada.Meanwhile, newly appointed Deputy Minister of Basic Education Sport and Culture Buddy Wentworth has announced his resignation as president of Athletics Namibia.Former vice president, Alpha Kangueehi, announced that he would be acting in that position until the body’s congress takes place in August.The move by Wentworth is regarded as a conflict of interest as he, in his new portfolio, will also deal with sport in the country.Wentworth was formerly the Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation.Tjongarero said the decision of the commission was a matter of principle and it should serve as an example to other athletes who have such ambitions.Van Wyk, a 100-metre runner who studies in the United States of America, was left out of the initial squad of six athletes who will represent Namibia at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, in August.Tjongarero said the athlete had failed to represent the country at the All Africa Games in Abuja last year, giving no substantive reasons despite numerous attempts by the athletics officials to get him to the Games.””It is a matter of honour to represent your country and the Government spends a lot of money in trying to get the athletes to compete,” she said.In an earlier report, Director of Sport in the Ministry of Basic Education Sport and Culture Dr. Vetumbuavi Veii, said it served no purpose to send athletes to the international showpiece event if they didn’t want to represent their country in other regional competitions, especially when they were held in Africa.Veii was quoted as saying that such athletes should not be considered as they disregarded the status of the African competitions.At this stage, five of the athletes who will compete at the Games are currently abroad, preparing for the Games which will kick off on August 13.The only athlete still in Namibia is Friedhelm Sack, who will compete in the air-pistol shooting event.Boxer Paulus Ambuda left late last week for a further training in Manchester, England, before he heads to Athens.Mannie Heymans, who will cycle for the country, is currently competing in the Trans Alps in Europe, while both runners Frank Fredericks and Agnes Samaria are also preparing on the continent.Wrestler Nico Jacobs is getting himself ready in Canada.Meanwhile, newly appointed Deputy Minister of Basic Education Sport and Culture Buddy Wentworth has announced his resignation as president of Athletics Namibia.Former vice president, Alpha Kangueehi, announced that he would be acting in that position until the body’s congress takes place in August.The move by Wentworth is regarded as a conflict of interest as he, in his new portfolio, will also deal with sport in the country.Wentworth was formerly the Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation.