Omusati regional governor Immanuel Shikongo recently officially sent off the region’s volleyball team to represent the country at the upcoming Special Olympics Games in Poland.
The team earned its place at the global competition after triumphing at the regional championships in August.
The Special Olympics Games are scheduled to take place from 4 to 9 October.
Their victory secured them the honour of carrying Namibia’s flag onto the world stage. Speaking at the send-off ceremony, Shikongo urged the athletes to compete with confidence and pride.
He encouraged them to play together with unity and determination, reminding them that they had already demonstrated their strength.
“You are already champions, and I have no doubt that you will make Namibia proud and return victorious,” he said.
Meanwhile, Freddy Mwiya, the Chief Administrator of the Namibia Sports Commission, confirmed that the government has allocated N$400 000 to support the team’s participation in the games.
He emphasised that most of the players hail from Omusati region, a fact that brings pride not only to the region but also to the nation.
Mwiya further noted that while government support is ongoing, there is a pressing need for more assistance from the private sector.
“The government continues to work hard to support our athletes, but we are also calling on the business community and corporate entities to come on board and assist, especially with the 58 national federations across the country,” he said.
The send-off marked a proud and unifying moment for Omusati region as the athletes prepared to represent Namibia proudly on the international stage.