The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) held a send-off ceremony yesterday for three groups of gymnasts who will be competing in various events abroad.

The event took place at the NNOC headquarters in the capital, and was attended by 26 gymnasts and their parents. 

One team is set to participate in the Rhythmic African Championships in Kigali, Rwanda from 25 to 26 April.

Another team is scheduled to leave the country next month to compete in the Artistic African Championships in Marrakech, Morocco from 3 to 5 May. 

Meanwhile, Carane van Zyl will participate in the Trampoline African Championships set for 10 to 11 May in Bizerte, Tunisia, where she will vie for a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games, scheduled to take place from 26 July to 11 August in Paris, France.

During the press conference, Namibia Gymnastics Federation (NGF) treasurer Monica Böhm thanked the NNOC for facilitating all logistics to ensure the teams' participation abroad.

“We would like to thank NNOC for supporting our three African Championships teams with a total grant value of N$600 000, which is applied towards the travel and accommodation costs for the three teams that we are sending. 

This great gesture will surely ensure that our athletes compete without any hiccups,” she said.

Meanwhile, Petra Thorburn, who will lead the team competing in Morocco, shared her thoughts on the preparations, expressing confidence in the team’s readiness. 

“We have been training since last year, and we have a strong team consisting of potential athletes who I believe can earn us medals. Overall, I believe our team is ready to go out there and make the country proud,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Van Zyl expressed her readiness after dedicating significant time to her preparation. 

“I was training twice a day and six days a week, and I can say I am ready. I’ve been chasing this dream since 2018, and it’s all on me now to ensure that I secure a place at this year’s Olympics,” she said. 

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na