Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Agnes Tjongarero has called on the Namibian team competing at the upcoming Special Olympics World Games to bring home silverware.

The 2023 Special Olympics World Games are scheduled for Berlin, Germany, from 17 to 25 June, with over 7 000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from approximately 170 countries competing in 24 sports codes.

Team Namibia will compete in three sport codes: unified 3x3 basketball, athletics and cycling.

Speaking during the sending-off ceremony held here on Thursday, Tjongarero said she is confident that the athletes will make the nation proud by bringing home gold medals, just as the female unified football team did in the United States of America in 2022.

“We are proud of you, your achievements are commendable, and the same applies to the coaches. Thank you for taking out the time to nurture our athletes’ talents in flying Namibia’s flag high. We look forward to your participation in the World Summer Games in Berlin,” she said.

Tjongarero added that the Government of Namibia through the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service availed funds to the tune of N.dollars 1.03 million to ensure that the athletes will compete at such an international competition.

“The Special Olympics World Games are an outstanding example of inclusion in action, putting people with disabilities and their sporting skills firmly in the limelight. Today we are very excited to see people with and without disabilities participating in sport,” she said, adding that even though the country went through economic hardship due to COVID-19, the Namibian Government through the ministry has continuously ensured that inclusive sports remained their top priority.

Special Olympics Namibia National Director Emilia Nzuzi, while speaking at the same occasion, gave her assurance that the team travelling to Germany has prepared well and will make the nation proud by winning.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency