NNOC urges early preps for Commonwealth Games

The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) has urged national sports federations to ensure athletes start preparations early as they gear up for the Commonwealth Games.

Scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August, the Games will feature a 10-sport programme, including six fully integrated para sports.

According to the official website, events will be hosted in four venues, which will host basketball, artistic gymnastics, athletics, bowls, boxing, track cycling, weightlifting, judo, netball and swimming.

In a statement issued recently, NNOC president Ndeulipula Hamutumwa acknowledged that early preparations would counter one of the key challenges last season, which was limited preparation time for athletes.

“This year, we are focusing on earlier planning, improved coordination with national federations, enhanced athlete monitoring and better utilisation of available resources to ensure athletes are adequately prepared both physically and mentally,” he said.

 

Allocated funding

Hamutumwa further noted that another challenge was resource constraints affecting exposure to high-level competition.

To counter this, he noted that the NNOC is working closely with government to secure funding for international participation as elite athletes prepare for the global showpiece.

When the 2025/26 national budget was tabled in March 2025, the sports ministry set aside N$7 million for national teams’ preparatory games for elite athletes who will be representing the country at international competitions.

“Our strategy this year is to work closely with the ministry and the sport commission [Namibia Sport Commission] to make sure part of the allocated N$7 million is released on time to adequately make it available for athletes,” Hamutumwa told Sport Wrap this week.

He added that NNOC will also be knocking at the door of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to tap funds through the Olympic Solidarity programmes and the private sector through sponsorships to meet the government halfway.

“We have submitted our budget for the Commonwealth Games, and hopefully, by the beginning of February, we should get an answer on how much the government will make available,” he said.

 

Sights on Youth Olympic Games

Beyond the Commonwealth Games, Hamutumwa assured that sights are already set on the next global showpiece, which is a proven highlight on the sporting calendar, the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

The prestigious Games will mark Africa’s first Olympic sports event from 31 October to 13 November in Senegal, with 25 competition sports and 10 engagement sports on the programme.

Hamutumwa is confident the nation has sufficient time to prepare for the YOG and build on its success at the African Youth Games (AYG) held in Luanda, Angola, last month.

“The AYG was a triumph that saw Namibia scoop 20 medals across swimming, athletics, golf and boxing, placing 10th overall out of 54 countries that participated.

“This adds to the nation’s tally of 22 medals from the African School Games (ASG) held in Algeria from July to August last year. Here, Namibia placed seventh out of 48 countries,” he noted.

The sport codes the country fielded at the ASG included athletics, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, equestrian and wrestling.

He added that the performances demonstrate the growing depth of talent in the country, reaffirming that with the right preparation and support, athletes can compete at a high level.

 

Podium prospects prioritised

As the international sporting season unfolds, Hamutumwa revealed optimism about podium prospects in the sports the country has traditionally been strong. He confirmed these codes will be prioritised and receive high-performance investment.

“We are positive that we have a machine that is working, and we can only build on it. The Commonwealth Games will be our building block toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

“Whichever sports codes line up for the Commonwealth Games, the chances are high that those athletes will receive further support to ensure they qualify for the Olympics,” he said.

The NNOC awarded Olympic Solidarity scholarships last year to cyclist Roger Surén, wrestler Kavelishimwe Ester Abraham, sprinter Ndawana Haitembu, cyclist Nathan Chase, long-distance runner Daniel Paulus and swimmer Jessica Humphrey for their 2028 Los Angeles Olympic preparation.

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