Windhoek
The 2016 edition of Namibia’s biggest road running competition, the Old Mutual Victory Race Series, was officially launched at NICE Restaurant in the capital yesterday.
As is customary, this year’s 16th edition of the race will run over four legs in four different towns. The first leg of the race will kick off on June 11 in Oshakati, while the 2nd leg is slated for the coastal town of Swakopmund on June 25.
The southern town of Keetmanshoop will host the 3rd leg on July 9, with the final and decisive 4th leg of the race scheduled for Windhoek on July 30.
Old Mutual has this year availed close to a handsome N$1 million, which includes financial rewards for the various winners in their respective categories. Namibia Bottling Company (NBL), through its Coca Cola brand, also reaffirmed its commitment towards the race for the umpteenth time, with a N$60 000 sponsorship, while Business Connexion and Schoemans also sponsored the race in kind and in cash.
Business Connexion sponsored N$16 000 and two laptops, which will be allocated to schools with the highest entry numbers in Oshakati and Keetmanshoop, while Schoemans sponsored N$26 000 and a photocopy machine, that will be given to the school with the highest overall number of entries. Welwitschia Travel will sponsor transport for the organisers to the various legs.
In his keynote address Minister of Sport, Youth and National Services Jerry Ekandjo said his ministry is mandated to empower the youth and to promote sport throughout the country at all levels – a task they cannot accomplish by themselves. Thus he commended Old Mutual for being a committed partner that shares in that vision.
“I encourage other corporates to follow suit to create platforms where the Namibian community at large may benefit from sporting and cultural initiatives. It is especially our youth that we need to keep captured to ensure their minds are filled with the desire to pursue activities that allow them to grow positively as individuals.
“ We should start roping in politicians and regional leaders so that they too can help the race grow and reach more people,” Ekandjo enthused.