Namibia is set to make its debut at the Youth Olympic Games, with a team of 12 athletes competing in seven sporting disciplines at the inaugural event in Dakar, Senegal. The games, which kick off on Saturday, will feature around 2,700 athletes from over 200 nations, competing in 25 sport codes. The Namibian team, led by chef de mission Maike Betts, has arrived safely in Dakar and is settling in well.
The Namibian team will compete in athletics, beach volleyball, beach wrestling, cycling, boxing, swimming, and triathlon. The first Namibian athletes to take part are beach volleyball players Robert Sinclair and Rene Steinkopf, who will compete in pool matches this weekend. They will face Sierra Leone, Germany, and Morocco in the coming days. The team's swimmers, who make up the largest contingent, will start their competition on Sunday.
According to Maike Betts, the team is well-prepared and excited to represent Namibia. She says the athletes are taking in the new environment and sharing the space with other athletes in the village, which is a new experience for them. The team physio is on site to assist with rehabilitation, and the medical facilities are also available, giving the team confidence in their preparation.
The Youth Olympic Games are a significant event, marking the first time an Olympic event will be staged in Africa. The games are also notable for featuring a Refugee Olympic Team, with six athletes based in Africa set to represent millions of displaced people across the continent. Some world-class athletes have competed at the Youth Olympics in the past, including Noah Lyles, Julien Alfred, and Chad le Clos.
The Namibian athletes will be competing against some of the world's top young talent, including Kenyan middle-distance runner David Sekento, Ethiopian middle-distance runner Elsabet Amare, and Antigua and Barbuda sprinter Tyra Fenton. The games will be livestreamed on Olympics.com, allowing fans to follow the action.
The team's schedule is as follows: triathlete James Langford will compete on November 5, beach wrestler Lisias Shipopyeni on November 7, cyclists Mike Baartman and Bianca Nell on November 8, boxer Kalenga Abraham on November 8, and athlete Elkana Iileka on November 10. The swimmers will be in action from Sunday until next Friday.
Namibia's participation in the Youth Olympic Games is a significant milestone, and the team is eager to make an impact. With a well-prepared team and a great attitude, Namibia is ready to take on the best young athletes from around the world.
Key points
- The Youth Olympic Games will feature around 2,700 athletes from over 200 nations competing in 25 sport codes.
- Namibia's team of 12 athletes will compete in seven sporting disciplines.
- The games mark the first time an Olympic event will be staged in Africa.
