[Namibian] Volunteers and translators who worked during the Region 5 Youth Games in Windhoek say they are relieved to have finally been paid, but many remain disheartened by how the situation was handled.

Youth Tree-Planting drive launches ahead of Region 5 Games Sport Tue, 07/22/2025 - 11:08

Under-20 football at Region 5 Games set for kick-off on Friday  COSAFA

Namibia in gear to host Region 5 Games  New Era Namibia

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Special Olympics Namibia has announced the para-athletes who will represent the country at the upcoming African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games.  This year marks the first time that para-athletes will officially be included in the Youth Games.  The event will feature various sports codes and is expected to be a milestone for inclusion in regional youth sport. Special Olympics Namibia welcomed the move, saying it is a historic step toward equality in sport.  “We’re thrilled to introduce our incredible athletes who will be representing Namibia at the 11th AUSC Region 5 Youth Games, hosted across Windhoek and Swakopmund from 4 to 13 July 2025. These amazing young athletes have been giving their all in training camps at Rietfontein, pushing boundaries with spirit-filled effort and unwavering dedication in every session. Let’s rally behind them,” the organisation said. They said the games are important for the athletes, as they promote inclusion and create more opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities.  “They amplify visibility. Namibia’s athletes compete on a massive stage, gaining recognition and shedding barriers. They inspire unity by participating alongside other youth athletes. Our team is breaking stereotypes and building lifelong connections. Come out and show your love. Every clap, hashtag, and message helps empower these champions as they represent inclusion, courage, and Namibian pride,” they added. Last week, AUSC organisers launched a language guide to help stakeholders communicate respectfully and accurately when speaking about athletes with disabilities.  The guide supports dignitaries, broadcasters, newsrooms, and others in using empowering and inclusive language.  It includes key terminology related to parasport, Special Olympics, and inclusive youth sport. The guide is part of the “Making Noise campaign, a learning process aimed at building a culture of belonging, dignity, and equal visibility.  “The Making Noise campaign is an inclusive and participatory process designed to disrupt the silence and marginalisation surrounding disability sports by elevating the voices, stories, and visibility of athletes with disabilities,” the guide states. The games will take place from 4 to 13 July 2025 in Windhoek and Swakopmund.

[Namibian] The government has made N$127 million available to ensure the smooth running of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games, which kick off this week.

Fixtures reminder – Region 5 Games U20 football competitions  COSAFA

[Namibian] Preparations for the Africa Union Sport Council Region 5 Games are on track, with everything in place for the launch on 3 July.

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibia is ready to host the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games, scheduled for 4 July 2025 in Windhoek and Swakopmund.  This was confirmed by Ndeulipula Hamutumwa, chairperson of the local organising committee. Speaking on Wednesday, Hamutumwa said Namibia accepted the task on short notice after Mozambique withdrew.  He said preparations are going well and the country is on track to deliver a successful event. He said major upgrades have been made to the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium and the University of Namibia (Unam) in Windhoek, as well as the Vineta Stadium in Swakopmund.  These renovations are meant to ensure good conditions for the athletes. “A key highlight of the pre-Games activities has been the highly successful local torch tour, which has captivated communities across the nation. The tour commenced with a coastal tour to Swakopmund in the Erongo Region on Saturday, the 21st of June 2025, igniting enthusiasm among residents. It then proceeded to the northern parts of Namibia, where it was warmly received by the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omusati, and Kunene Regions in Oshakati on Monday, June 23, 2025,” he said. He said the torch then travelled on 25 June to Rundu, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, and the two Kavango regions. Residents were able to see the games’ mascot, Rhino, and meet top Namibian athletes from those areas.  The torch was then taken to Gobabis in the Omaheke Region, and it will be in Keetmanshoop on 27 June before arriving in Windhoek on 29 June. “The torch relay has featured inspiring participation from former Region 5 athletes, including both able-bodied and para-athletes, celebrating the spirit of sport and unity. During the torch tour, officials have consistently expressed their excitement and confidence. This sentiment was echoed by the Omaheke Regional Councillor in Gobabis,” he said. “Everything is going according to plan. We are confident in delivering a truly exceptional event for all participating nations. We are calling upon Namibians to come in huge numbers and cheer both local and international athletes as they test their prowess against each other in a sporting spirit. These kids will make friends for life during these games; hence, we must support them,” said Hamutumwa. He said the Region 5 Youth Games will be a celebration of sport, culture, and unity.  Namibia is ready to welcome athletes and officials from across the Southern Africa Development Community region and to show its ability to host a major international sporting event.

Meyer to scout talent at upcoming Region 5 Games  The Namibian -

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Renovations are underway at the City of Windhoek’s United Nations (UN) Plaza park in Soweto, Katutura, in preparation for the Region 5 Youth Games. Namibia will host the games for the first time from 4 to 13 July in Windhoek and Swakopmund. Organisers are finalising several venues in both cities, including UN Plaza. The event will bring together around 2,552 athletes and officials from 10 Southern African countries.  Competitions will take place across 12 sports codes, including basketball, tennis, volleyball, football, and boxing. On Tuesday morning, a City of Windhoek team led by Sidney Goagoseb, section head for sports, visited the site to inspect progress.  Goagoseb said about 90% of the work is complete and everything is on track. “The renovations are not just moving fast, they are also meeting international standards, setting the stage for a world-class experience,” said Goagoseb. The UN Plaza park was inaugurated in 1995 by the late president Hage Geingob to provide a recreational space for residents and surrounding communities with access to sports activities.

Namibia hope to use home ground advantage at Region 5 Games  COSAFA

Namibia a worthy host for Region 5 Games football competition  COSAFA

Soccer and Team Sport draw held for upcoming AUSC Region 5 Games Sport Wed, 06/11/2025 - 10:13

Cosafa U20 sides gear up for Region 5 Games in Namibia  heraldonline.co.zw

The Student Union of Namibia has expressed concern over the abrupt eviction of University of Namibia (Unam) students from the hostel accommodations to make room for participants of the upcoming African Union Sport Council Region Five Games. This comes after Unam instructed students in the hostel to vacate by Wednesday, as the dilapidated building is being renovated in preparation for the games. “There are students who do not have relatives here, where they will go? Unam is literally forcing these students into prostitution if the matter is not handled with care,” union secretary general Oscar ya Shikongo told The Namibian over the weekend. The hostels will be used to accommodate participants, with Namibia acting as the host country for the games slated for 3 to 14 July in Windhoek and Swakopmund. Ya Shikongo condemned the decision, raising concerns that it may lead to students resorting to unconventional means to secure accommodation, especially those who have nowhere to go. He said Unam cannot prioritise foreigners over its own people, while questioning what happened to the budget to host these events. “Accommodation for the games should be elsewhere and not at Unam as this disrupts students’ exams,” he said. He added that if students are being asked to leave, then Unam should reimburse them for the money already paid. Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho told The Namibian that engagements between the management and the student representative council have already begun to discuss alternative solutions. He assures students that Unam prioritises them before anything and will incur the total cost for the affected students. “We understand how reluctant some students may be to move out due to accommodation spaces. Hence we will cover all costs spanning from accommodation, transport and even Wi-Fi. We will drive them to and from, depending on the location such a student may find themselves in,” he says. Namesho cautions students to be aware of those who may use the situation to feed them with false information, urging them to seek clarity from the university via the right channels. He assures that all students’ needs will be looked after. A student who spoke on condition of anonymity says they were told on short notice, leaving them with little time to prepare. The student argues that some of them do not have relatives in Windhoek and would find it difficult to find accommodation. “Like myself, I don’t have family here. Where will I go?” asks the student. The students are calling for the decision to be halted or to extend the examinations, although many do not want examinations to be extended. They handed over their petition to Unam yesterday. Namibia National Student Organisation deputy secretary general Donna Gamatham says they are busy engaging management to address students’ concerns. The students are currently in the middle of their examinations. The post Region 5 Games sends Unam hostel students to the streets appeared first on The Namibian.

Athletes with intellectual disabilities have been included in the Region 5 Games for the first time, marking a milestone for Special Olympics in southern Africa. Special Olympics Africa president Charles Nyambe says this inclusion is highly appreciated. In an exclusive interview with Desert FM recently, he said the games have been going on for years, but Special Olympics athletes were never included although Paralympics athletes were. “Paralympics are for people with physical disabilities; the Special Olympics are for people with intellectual disabilities. So the Special Olympics were not included until this year. “And this is because Stanley Mutoya, who is the chairperson and the chief executive officer of Region 5, had the opportunity to attend the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany.  “I invited him. I extended an invitation to him because I noted that Region 5 Africa Union had very little knowledge about the Special Olympics,” Nyambe said. He said when Mutoya arrived in Germany to experience the games, he was blown away. “When he saw the magnitude of these games – 7 000 athletes from all over the world from 200 countries – it was just like a replica of the Olympic Games.” Nyambe said the Special Olympic Games are bigger because more athletes participate. “He could not believe it, seeing the opening ceremonies, the march and everything that happens at the Special Olympic Games. “The bigger transformational point is when he witnessed the athletes participating and performing on the fields . . . it was a wow to him. He came up to me and said: ‘Listen, pardon us for our ignorance. Now my eyes have been opened. I understand we have a population that has been neglected, and we are not going to continue to neglect this population. We’re going to include them in our future activities’. “At that point, he extended the invitation to the Special Olympics Region 5 Games that were going to be held in Namibia, coincidentally.  “And now the ball, the unified ball that I gave to Ndeuli Hamutumwa and Stanley Motoya, those footballs are called unified footballs,” he said. The post Special Olympics finally included in Region 5 Games  appeared first on The Namibian.

Namibian representatives at the African Golf Confederation (AGC) Region 5 Tournament in Botswana are eyeing honours. The AGC Region 5 Golf Tournament is a premier golfing event that brings together the best talent, elite business minds, and passionate spectators from across the region. Alongside the hosts, the prestigious event has brought together 10 nations including Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe “to compete and celebrate the spirit of golf in southern Africa”. The Namibian quartet of Jackson Kawaya, Kyle Johnson, Henry Mudge and team captain Brendan Britten teed-off with lofty ambitions at the Stanbic Bank Gaborone Golf Club yesterday. Namibian skipper Britten says the team is motivated to excel against their regional rivals. The tournament ends on Saturday. “We’re excited, we’re looking forward to the tournament. The boys are well prepared,” Britten says. “Obviously, you would like to win the tournament, but for us as a team, if we can get on the podium, we’ll be coming back to Namibia with a smile,” he continues. “We would like to say a word of thanks to the Namibia Amateur Golf Union and the president, Toady Gurirab, for giving us the opportunity to come and prepare well for the tournament. “We are hopeful and expecting to bring a medal back to Namibia. This is our main goal.” International newcomer and teammate Jackson Kawaya is also upbeat about their prospects in Gaborone where skill, precision, and sportsmanship on a world-class course will take centre stage. “I’m really excited. I would say this is a dream come true for me because this is my first time taking part in an international tournament for my country and I’m very happy,” Kawaya says. After getting a fell of the conditions earlier this week, his optimism doubled. “The course is really fun. It’s good. It’s more like our home courses in Namibia,” notes Kawaya. “I’m looking forward to bringing something back home and we are ready. We are ready because together we are stronger.” The post Namibian golfers tee-off at Region 5 Games  appeared first on The Namibian.

Namibian golfers tee-off at Region 5 Games  The Namibian -