The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing sport development and aligning with national priorities following a series of high-level international and national engagements.
Speaking during a media briefing in Windhoek, NNOC president Ndeulipula Hamutumwa highlighted the outcomes of a recent visit to the International Olympic Committee headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The engagement marked a significant milestone in strengthening Namibia’s relationship with the global Olympic movement and unlocking new opportunities for athlete development, institutional capacity building and technical cooperation.
The NNOC has also strengthened national alignment through engagements with government leadership, including President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, reinforcing the role of sport as a catalyst for development and international visibility.
“As you know, our mandate as the National Olympic Committee is to promote the Olympic movement in Namibia and to promote Namibia to the global sport arena. To continue to promote institutional capacity, ensuring compliance with international standards and remain central to the organisational mandate,” Hamutumwa said.
He further described the recent engagements as transformative for Namibia’s sporting future, noting that strengthened international relations would enhance access to funding mechanisms, global expertise and high-performance programmes.
NNOC chief executive officer Anri Parker said the focus now is on translating these strategic relationships into tangible outcomes. Government has allocated N$3.8 million towards Namibia’s participation in the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2026, scheduled for 23 July to 2 August in Glasgow.
Namibia is expected to field a team of 22 athletes, including both able-bodied and para-athletes, supported by a 15-member coaching and support staff contingent. The team will compete across multiple disciplines, including athletics, swimming, boxing, gymnastics, bowls and para-sport events.
Parker revealed that preparations are already well underway, with some teams having secured qualification. The bowls teams, both men and women, qualified during last year’s African Championships after finishing among the top two on the continent. She added that logistical preparations are also progressing smoothly.
“The kit has been designed and ordered already. Our athletes are going to look phenomenal, and thanks to partners, as we have in Holland, they will have free travel insurance included and will also have in-competition injury insurance, so that our athletes will not have to worry about medical bills,” she concluded.