Solidarity scholarship to continue aiding athletes
Namibian athletes who are on the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship will continue to receive their funds until next year.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
WINDHOEK
Four Namibian athletes, marathon runner Helalia Johannes, amateur boxer Jonas Junias Jonas, rower Maike Diekmann and cyclist Tristan de Lange, will continue to benefit from the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship they receive as part of preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The athletes each receive about N$13 000 a month.
The games, originally slated for this July, have been postponed to July 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Funding extended
Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) secretary-general Joan Smit said the funding is in its third year for the athletes but has been extended until next year, giving the athletes enough time to ready themselves for the sporting spectacular.
She further said that while the funds don't cover all the athletes' expenses, for those who don't have any money, it helps them with preparations.
Silver lining
Smit added that most athletes who qualified for the Tokyo Games are individual sportsmen and women and are not in team sports, which benefits them as team sports training is currently discouraged to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
The scholarship aids with athlete preparation, qualification and also pays for training facilities, coaches and physiotherapy and helps the athletes purchase supplements, she said.
'Not every athlete can be assisted with the Olympic scholarship, however,” Smit emphasised. 'They need to demonstrate their potential at national and international level so that they can be selected.”
When the window opens for application, federations often fail to apply for the funds, she said, and this leaves the NNOC with the responsibility to apply for the athletes.
'I had to apply for the boxers the last time,' she said, adding that two other boxers she applied for did not get funding.
Smit said she has written to the scholarship fund to consider 400-metre sprint sensation Beatrice Masilingi for funding.
Scholarship impact
Boxer Jonas said the scholarship has done so much for them, as many corporates haven't adopted athletes doing exceptional work.
'It has really helped me as I at least get some money to purchase supplements and pay gym fees, amongst other things,' he said.
He added that he continues to train, saying next year will be different as he intends to make a mark with his fighting career.
WINDHOEK
Four Namibian athletes, marathon runner Helalia Johannes, amateur boxer Jonas Junias Jonas, rower Maike Diekmann and cyclist Tristan de Lange, will continue to benefit from the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship they receive as part of preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The athletes each receive about N$13 000 a month.
The games, originally slated for this July, have been postponed to July 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Funding extended
Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) secretary-general Joan Smit said the funding is in its third year for the athletes but has been extended until next year, giving the athletes enough time to ready themselves for the sporting spectacular.
She further said that while the funds don't cover all the athletes' expenses, for those who don't have any money, it helps them with preparations.
Silver lining
Smit added that most athletes who qualified for the Tokyo Games are individual sportsmen and women and are not in team sports, which benefits them as team sports training is currently discouraged to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
The scholarship aids with athlete preparation, qualification and also pays for training facilities, coaches and physiotherapy and helps the athletes purchase supplements, she said.
'Not every athlete can be assisted with the Olympic scholarship, however,” Smit emphasised. 'They need to demonstrate their potential at national and international level so that they can be selected.”
When the window opens for application, federations often fail to apply for the funds, she said, and this leaves the NNOC with the responsibility to apply for the athletes.
'I had to apply for the boxers the last time,' she said, adding that two other boxers she applied for did not get funding.
Smit said she has written to the scholarship fund to consider 400-metre sprint sensation Beatrice Masilingi for funding.
Scholarship impact
Boxer Jonas said the scholarship has done so much for them, as many corporates haven't adopted athletes doing exceptional work.
'It has really helped me as I at least get some money to purchase supplements and pay gym fees, amongst other things,' he said.
He added that he continues to train, saying next year will be different as he intends to make a mark with his fighting career.
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