Special Olympics athletes set for world stage
Special Olympics Namibia’s (SON) National Games, held recently in Windhoek, brought together 285 athletes and Unified partners from across the country to determine athletes and teams for upcoming international events.
The seven-day Games saw athletes and Unified partners compete in volleyball, basketball, football and athletics, in what SON described as a celebration of inclusion, courage, sportsmanship and opportunity.
Beyond the celebration, the event served as an important advancement platform for athletes and teams to earn national representation through division placements, competition results and Special Olympics advancement procedures.
The selected athletes and teams will represent Namibia at the Unified Football World Cup in France from 6 to 11 July, the Region Five Youth Games in Mozambique from 3 to 13 December and the 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Chile from 16 to 25 October.
SON’s central, eastern, northern and coastal clusters were represented at the Games.
Football champions to Paris
Namibia earned one women’s slot for Unified football, with six teams competing for the sole place at the Unified Football World Cup in Paris in a seven-a-side format.
Khomas I claimed the available spot after winning gold in the Unified seven-a-side football competition.
They finished ahead of Khomas II, who claimed silver, while Outapi took bronze.
Khomas III finished fourth ahead of Tonateni, who received a participation ribbon, while Erongo were disqualified due to technical issues, organisers confirmed.
The travelling Khomas team comprises Junias Beata Mpingana, Vitjituaije Master, Kaetjavi Unondjamo, Ngairo Kayla-Lee, Kinda Christina Dorothea, Ibagu-!Khogu Manisha Ore-Aos, Haakuria Okeri Hitjitevi, Benyameni Kristofina, Somses Anna-Ida Heidi, Engelbrecht Anchen Vivian and Esau Daniela Allien.
Athletics long list to Maputo
In athletics, SON named a 20-athlete long list for the Region Five Youth Games, with 10 female and 10 male athletes selected across the 100m, 200m and long jump.
The female selections came from five divisions, where gold and silver medallists advanced, while the male list was made up of gold medallists from eight divisions and two athletes selected through public draws under Special Olympics advancement procedures.
The female athletes listed are Angelie Vivian Isaak, Namwapo Laimi, Kaunuua Vitjituaije, Guriras Jogobeth, Moses Frida, Paingeiko Jessica, Boois Gladys Natu, Nomiseb Sheryn, Matias Elizabeth and Klementine Kamunoko.
The male athletes listed are Uamburu Mohammed, Lizazi Robert, Daweb Obed, Talia Ondeni, Endjaimbi Titus, Hashipembe Christinus, Uugwanga Salatiel, Wilhem Hangula, Shilongo Malakia and Kawina Paulus.
Volleyball champions to Santiago
For next year’s World Games, SON selected one Unified female volleyball team and one Unified male volleyball team, further noting an improved level of play across the participating teams.
Kavango East II earned advancement to the World Games after winning gold in the women’s second division. Six teams competed across two divisions, with gold-medal teams entering a draw for advancement.
Right behind Kavango East II in the second division were Kavango East I, who took silver, and Eluwa, who claimed bronze.
Outapi won gold in the first division, ahead of Dagbreek (silver) and Môreson (bronze).
In the men’s competition, Zambezi advanced after winning gold in the second division. Five teams competed across two divisions, with the advancement process similar to that of the women’s division.
Kavango East took silver behind Zambezi in the second division.
In the first division, Outapi won gold, followed by Môreson (silver) and Dagbreek (bronze).
Athletics champions to Santiago
For the World Games athletics event in Chile, Selma Doeses of Dagbreek advanced in the women’s 1500m after a public draw between the two divisional gold medallists.
Wamunyima Angeles from Zambezi secured the men’s 800m advancement after a public draw among five divisional gold medallists.
Other national champions
The Games also featured basketball 3-on-3 and men’s football, although organisers confirmed that there were no advancement opportunities for those competitions at this stage.
In women’s 3-on-3 basketball, which featured three teams in one division, Khomas took gold ahead of Tonateni (silver) and Môreson (bronze).
The men’s competition featured eight teams across two divisions, with the second division serving as the developmental category.
First division: 1 Khomas II, 2 Wakanda Boys, 3 Khomas I, 4 Môreson Men, 5 Kavango East.
Second division: 1 Tonateni, 2 Eluwa, 3 Zambezi.
Men’s football: 1 Eluwa, 2 Kavango East, 3 Erongo, 4 Khomas.
Gratitude
In a statement, national director Levien Smit congratulated the athletes on their participation and achievements and wished them well in their preparations for the upcoming events and year-round training.
“A significant highlight of the Games was the participation of regional sports officers from various regions in the country.
“Their involvement strengthened the impact of the Games and created valuable opportunities for learning and engagement around inclusion, intellectual disabilities and the different programmes offered through SON,” she said.
Smit further thanked the sports ministry for providing transport for all participants, Social Security Commission for its N$100 000 sponsorship, Disability Sport Namibia for sponsoring all medals, Namib Mills for donating food.
She also extended gratitude to all suppliers, partners, volunteers, technical officials, coaches, parents and supporters who made the event possible. The Games also featured health screenings for athletes and a youth summit focused on the visibility of athletes’ stories.
