Rudolf Gaiseb
Namibia will participate in the SpoGomi World Cup this year for the first time.
The country is set to hold its World Cup qualifier competition on 5 March, set to kick off at Zoo Park in Windhoek from 8h00 to 13h00.
Team registration closes on Friday, and teams are urged to visit spogomi.nam-na.com to enter.
SpoGomi is a Japanese word for “Sport Gomihiroi,” and translates to ‘picking up trash’.
The sport was born in Japan in 2008, in which teams compete against each other for points awarded according to the amount and type of trash picked up in a given area within a set time limit.
Delivery Room Foundation chairperson and organiser Elago Nantana said it is an exciting competition where teams compete to collect and sort waste, turning environmental action into a sport!
He added the fastest, smartest and most strategic teams win big.
The project, owned by the Japanese Nippon Foundation, reached out to Namibia to widen its participation in the sport.
Nantana swiftly heeded the call, he said. “The Delivery Room, a Spiritual and Mental Health Clinic that does community outreach programmes targeting boys and men in Namibia and beyond, has a sports leg, and did not hesitate to accept.
Through the sport, we raise awareness of waste and pollution, and try to work with people to clean up the city. Next year, we will try to work across the country to clean up the country. We will focus on involving more youth to participate,” he said.
With the sport being new, Nantana highlighted his team is fighting to make it a recognised sport in Namibia.
Meanwhile, he said Namibians should join to help keep clean and protect their environment.
“A sustainable future for Namibia, SpoGomi is more than just a competition. It is a movement that empowers Namibians to take responsibility for their environment. By making waste collection a fun, competitive and rewarding experience, it helps bridge the gap between awareness and action, ensuring long-term environmental benefits for Namibia. The winning team will represent Namibia in Japan for the World Cup finals,” he emphasised.
The first-ever SpoGomi World Cup was held in November 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. Furthermore, the sport has a slogan “Picking up trash is a sport!”. The attraction of this SpoGomi is that not only is trash eliminated through competition, but with teamwork, and depending on strategy and tactics, anyone can “win”, regardless of age or gender.
The competition is open to all ages above 15, while the teams consist of three members.
If any member of the team is under 12 years old, at least one member of the team must be 18 years old or older.
A participant under the age of 18 must obtain the consent of a parent or guardian before participating.
Additionally, wheelchair users are welcome to participate in the event.
Two of the three participants must be nationals and must have or be in the process of obtaining a passport.
The 2025 SpoGomi World Cup will be held in October 2025 in Japan. –rrgaiseb@gmail.com