Olympic athletes go with support from ministry

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Mbeuta uaNdjarakana handed over promotional material for the Nationhood and National Pride Campaign to the Namibian athletes that will be taking part in the 2012 London Summer Games. Speaking at the hand over ceremony, uaNdjarakana said that his ministry is proud of the sportsmen and women because of their remarkable achievement. He urged the nine participants to brand Namibia at the Olympic games saying that they have a national responsibility to the country, “I would like to urge you not to disappoint the country as you the ambassadors have a national responsibility to the country. Behave and remain disciplined throughout the games” said the PS adding that the athletes should view the gesture by the ministry as a token of appreciation for their hard work. Ndeulipula Hamutumwa, Chef de Mission to the team, upon receiving the branding material thanked the PS for the kind gesture and assured him that the nine athletes are amongst the best in the world as they have qualified for the games with an A-qualification. The athletes are: Dan Craven: Road cycling, Marc Bassingthwaighte: Mountain bike, Mujandjae Kasuto and Jonas Matheus: Boxing, Gaby Ahrens:Shooting, Sem Shilimela: Wrestling, Beata Naigambo and Helalia Johannes: Marathon Runners and Tjipekapora Herunga: Athletics. The team departs for London this Friday, 20 July and is expected to return to Namibia on 14 August. (Photograph Yvonne Amukwaya)