Windhoek
A high-profile delegation from the Angolan Paralympic Committee (CPA) is expected to arrive in Windhoek today for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC).
Confirming the news to New Era Sport yesterday was NPC Secretary General Michael Hamukwaya who said the committees will discuss and share ideas on how athletes from both countries can work together in striving for excellence.
The Angolan delegation will be led by CPA Secretary General António da Luz, Deputy Secretary General Telma Silva and their national Paralympics coordinator José Manuel.
“The Angolan delegation is expected to arrive today, so we will officially hold discussions tomorrow as well as sign the MoU. The objective of the meeting is to find ways on how we as sister countries can work together to better our athletes. Angola has seen what Namibian athletes can do at continental and international levels, thus they have asked for this meeting to share and learn from us and we from them as well,” said Hamukwaya.
“Some of the planned collaborations between the two countries will be to host a joint 15-day training camp in Windhoek on a yet-to-be announced date, where all the top athletes will be training together, sharing facilities, and also the coaches sharing expertise.
“So all in all, the idea here is to fully prepare together for this year’s Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.”
This year’s Paralympics, which will be the 15th edition of the multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from September 7 to September 18, making them the first Summer Paralympics to be held during the host city’s wintertime.
The event will also mark the first time a Latin American and South American city hosts the games and also the only second Southern Hemisphere nation to host the games, with the first one being Australia during the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney.