Region Five Games postponed

NAMPA



Namibia Sport Commission chief administrator Freddy Mwiya says the decision taken by the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Five ministers to move the Youth Games to 2021 will give Namibian athletes enough time to prepare for the championships.

The AUSC Region Five Youth Games, which were scheduled for Maseru, Lesotho from 4 to 13 December, have been postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.



Let's make it safe

This decision was reached at a virtual meeting of the Troika of AUSC Region Five ministers of sport on Friday, which recommended that the Youth Games be held in a normal environment for the safety of participants from the hosting and travelling countries.

Mwiya said they have always emphasised having a one-year cycle with athletes and the postponement of the games gives that opportunity now.

“If you look at it this year, we have not yet selected a team to represent the country at these games due to Covid-19, but with the games now moved, we have enough time to select a team which will represent the country,” he said.

Mwiya added that the National Youth Games (NYG), which did not take place in 2019 after its maiden edition in 2018, will this year be held in December and will give national selectors an opportunity to look for new talent.

“We are still planning to host the NYG after getting sponsorship from MTC. We are hoping that those who will be selected at these youth games will get a chance to be put in camp at some stage next year as part of their preparation for different youth competitions,” Mwiya said. The AUSC Region Five is comprised of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.