China gifts NNOC 1 000 pairs of running shoes
The Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) handed over 1 000 pairs of running shoes to the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) at the Chinese Embassy in Windhoek on Tuesday.
The donation followed President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s state visit to China earlier this month, her first since becoming president, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During the visit, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening people-to-people exchanges in several areas, including youth and sport.
The Shanghai delegation was led by CPPCC Shanghai Committee vice chairman Xiao Guiyu, who said the donation was made in response to Nandi-Ndaitwah’s visit.
“This event is a manifestation of [our nations’] shared commitment to cooperation and represents a new achievement in our collaboration across fields such as youth and sport,” he said.
Xiao added that the delegation deliberately selected Feiyue sports shoes for the donation because the classic Chinese sports brand has a history spanning nearly a century and embodies its good wishes.
Deepened sporting relations
Chinese ambassador to Namibia Zhao Weiping echoed those sentiments, saying the drive to deepen sporting relations had been further strengthened by the president’s visit.
“I hope our two countries will have more exchanges and cooperation in the area of sports. [This event,] in my view, has indeed marked a new beginning in this regard,” said Zhao.
He also invited the new NNOC leadership to return to the embassy, saying China hoped to build on the work of the previous administration in strengthening people-to-people relations through sport.
“I assured vice president [Gaby Ahrens] that there is a lot for us to do in terms of cooperation in the area of sports, and the embassy will continue to facilitate that,” he said.
He assured the NNOC that sport would remain one of the embassy’s priorities going forward.
NNOC vice president Gaby Ahrens welcomed the donation on behalf of president Dr Ndeulipula Hamutumwa, who is on international duty accompanying Team Namibia to the Commonwealth Games, which start tomorrow in Scotland.
Beyond the field of play
Ahrens said the gesture was a reminder of sport’s power to connect people, cultures and nations, showing that friendships built through mutual respect can create opportunities extending beyond the field of play.
“As a three-time Olympian, I have learned that sports is rarely about one defining moment. It is built through hundreds of small acts of kindness and support that often go unseen,” she said.
She highlighted the country’s abundance of sporting talent, noting that much of it remained constrained by limited access to equipment and opportunities. Ahrens said many parents could not afford the sporting equipment their children needed.
“That is why [this] donation carries so much significance. The NNOC will ensure that these shoes are distributed fairly, transparently and responsibly to athletes who need them most,” she said.
Ahrens confirmed to Sport Wrap that the NNOC executive would determine the distribution process at a later stage, once the types of shoes had been confirmed and the shipment received.
“A needs assessment will be conducted across the NNOC’s member national federations. The intention is to ensure that these shoes directly benefit athletes,” she noted.
“We hope the reality of children arriving at national competitions without proper shoes will become a thing of the past. No child’s dream should be limited by the circumstances into which they are born.”
