Namibian Sun

Gaseb qualifies for U-20 World Athletics ChampionshipsStar in the making The athlete, who represents Namib Lions Athletics Club, said it will be a great opportunity for him to participate in the games. NAMPA

Namibia’s 18-year-old sprinter Elvis Gaseb will make his maiden international appearance when he competes at the World Athletics Under-20 (U-20) Championships in Kenya, Nairobi next month.

The biennial athletics world championship is contested by athletes in the U-20 athletics age category in the year of the competition.

Gaseb, who qualified to represent Namibia at the 2020 African Union Sport Council Region Five Games that will be held this year in Maseru, Lesotho, will join the likes of sensational sprinters Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma, who also qualified to represent the country at the World Athletics U-20 event scheduled for 17 to 18 August.

“This will be the first time I will be competing at an international competition. I will do my best because my coach is doing a great job in preparing me,” Gaseb said, adding that his goal is to compete at more international competitions as well as run good times in three years’ time.

Not a surprise

Michael Hamukwaya, the founder of Namib Lion Athletics Club and Gaseb’s coach, said it is really important to see young upcoming athletes running good times and qualifying for international competitions.

“Elvis qualifying is not a surprise because it came from his hard work. As a club, our goal was for him to compete at the Region Five Games in December, but after his latest qualification for the World Athletics U-20 Championships, those plans have been adjusted and we are now preparing him more as he showed he can also compete with the elite,” he said.

The coach added that Gaseb qualifying for these games is good motivation for other young athletes and he hopes the young athlete can achieve his goal of representing the country at more international competitions.

“We are working on a four- to six-year plan and our goal is to see Elvis qualifying for the Commonwealth Games and then from there concentrate on other competitions,” Hamukwaya said.

To the Olympians Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

It is once again that time when the world’s biggest athletics competition kicks off – this time in Tokyo, with some of Namibia’s finest stars set to compete.

Normally a colourful event filled with hype, there is an unusual feel towards it this time around given the invisible enemy in our midst by the name of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Still, we have our sons and daughters who will be flying the flag high at this year’s Olympics Games.

Yes, it is the biggest athletics competition and many athletes dream of a stage like this in their lifetime.

From North America to South America, from Asia to Europe and right down in Africa, nothing beats the excitement of winning a medal for your country and continent.

We go into this competition with a large number of potential medallists and probably the most talented group since Frankie Fredericks’ era.

Namibia will be represented once again and this time I can only hope for a medal from any of our stars.

We are going into this competition with Commonwealth gold medallists and arguably the most talented upcoming female sprinters of this generation.

We go into this event having nothing to lose as some of our athletes are set to compete in their last ever Olympics.

I feel we are allowed to dream about the unthinkable and that is why I feel we are closer to glory than we have been for the past 20 years.

We had a better chance of claiming a 400m gold or silver at Tokyo, but the cards have been changed after two of our female sprinters were disqualified due to high levels of testosterone.

What, however, amazes me is the fact that these girls have not been deterred and are ready to take the 200m by storm.

They are not the strongest in that division and are set to come up against one of the best female athletes of our generation - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

The truth is I am not scared of whoever they come up against because I still have a strong feeling that they are going to give these athletes a run for their money.

I would, therefore, like to urge all Namibians to rally behind the team equally as we head into the biggest competition in world athletics.

These athletes need us now more than ever because I am sure that they are nervous as they embark on a journey to represent a whole nation of 2.5 million against nations that have close to billions in population.

We are indeed a small nation with a small population, but we are known for our bravery and ‘never say die’ mentality.

We are up against nations with advanced training methods and technology.

I, however, do not find our dream of winning a medal impossible, even when we are up against the odds.

We have to roar, we have to fight and we should not give up on chasing that Olympic medal, even if it appears to be a titanic task.

Sometimes I know as a country we demand too much but just as any human, we crave success and glory and we hope our athletes can bring us that.

To the athletes, just know that I believe in you and I am confident that you will do whatever it takes to make us proud.

I want you to go on that field and leave everything on that arena.

I want you to perform and compete to the best of your ability. I want you to die on that arena for your country. We love you.a

Depressed economy with rising commodity pricesTransport, food drives price monster Overall inflation rose by 4.1% in June 2021 compared to 2.1% recorded in June 2020, an increase of 2 percentage points. The biggest risks to our forecast include, prolonged social unrest in South Africa leading to major disruptions in the food supply chain and increased food prices. Simonis Storm (SS)

PHILLEPUS UUSIKU

Statistics released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) last week indicated that prices of goods and services continued to rise in the already depressed domestic economy.

The Namibia economy contracted by 6.5% in the first quarter of 2021, compared to a decline of 2.5% recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2020.

According to the NSA, for the month of June 2021, inflation rose by 4.1%, compared to 2.1% recorded in June 2020, an increase of 2 percentage points. In May 2021, overall inflation stood at 3.8%.

In the first quarter of 2021, the transport sector was one of the sectors that performed poorly, registering a negative growth of 8.7%. On 7 July 2021, fuel prices increased by 40 cents per litre.

According to Cirrus Capital (CC), fuel prices have increased over the course of this year compared to the price decreases last year after the oil price collapse. Compared to their June 2019 prices, petrol is only N$0.10 per litre more expensive, whereas diesel is in fact N$0.45 per litre cheaper than in June 2019.

Drivers

NSA pointed out that the highest change in the annual inflation rate were witnessed in the categories of transport that increased by 9.6%, followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages at 7.3%, miscellaneous goods and services by 6.4%, furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house by 5.6%, health by 3.3%, alcoholic beverages and tobacco by 2.5%, respectively.

In May 2021, transport inflation stood at 7.3%. The transport category carries the third largest weight of 14.28 in the NSA consumer price index (CPI), behind the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, and food and non-alcoholic beverages categories, each with a weight of 28.36 and 16.45, respectively. On average, for every N$100 that consumers have in their wallets, N$14.28 is likely to be spend on transport.

Also commenting on the inflation figures, Simonis Storm (SS) notes that the two main contributors in transport inflation were operation of personal transport equipment and purchase of vehicles which increased to 13.1% and 8.5% year-on-year in June 2021 respectively, compared to 13.0% and 10.0% year-on-year in May 2021.

The purchase of vehicles subcategory was supported by households and businesses buying vehicles in the month of June 2021, increasing by 10.1% year-on-year. Key dealers in the automotive industry have also alluded to rising vehicle prices in recent months, despite a stronger South African (SA) rand (R) exchange rate, SS said.

Zones

The zonal inflation rates for the month of June 2021 revealed that Zone 3 (//Kharas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke) recorded the highest annual inflation of 4.9%, followed by Zone 1 (Northern regions) with 3.9%, while Zone 2 (Windhoek) recorded the lowest of 3.7% annual inflation rate, NSA pointed out.

The increase in the annual inflation rate of Zone 1 resulted mainly from increases in the price levels of transport furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house.

Similarly, Zone 2 inflation mainly emanated from the price levels of transport, food and non-alcoholic beverages, miscellaneous goods and services, furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house and health.

Lastly, increases in price levels recorded in miscellaneous goods and services, transport, food and non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic, beverages and tobacco drove Zone 3 inflation.

“We forecast annual average inflation of 3.5% for 2021.The biggest risks to our forecast include, prolonged social unrest in South Africa leading to major disruptions in the food supply chain and increased food prices, OPEC+ fails to agree on increases in oil production and oil prices increase further, and a weaker rand," SS said.-phillep@nmh.com.na

Olympic wild card for De Lange Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Namibian cyclist Tristan de Lange has been given a wild card to the Tokyo Olympics following the withdrawal of Dan Craven from the competition.

The Namibian Cycling Federation (NCF), in collaboration with the Namibian National Olympic Committee (NNOC), announced that Craven withdrew due to a positive Covid-19 test.

De Lange is now expected to represent the country in the 233km road race around Mount Fuji, provided that the world cycling body approves the replacement.

“The team manager will be Mannie Heymans, replacing NCF president Axel Theissen.

“We wish all Namibian Olympians the best of success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. We wish to thank the NNOC, the NCF, Rock and Rut MTB Club and Windhoek Pedal Power for their support of our Olympic athletes,” the cycling federation said in a statement.

Geingob sends off Olympic, Paralympic teams

Nampa

President Hage Geingob has called on Namibian athletes to be respectful to their coaches as well as be good ambassadors while competing at the rescheduled Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Olympic Games are scheduled for 23 July to 8 August, while the Paralympic Games will take place from 24 August to 5 September.

During a sending-off ceremony on Friday, Geingob said it’s not easy for athletes to qualify for the Olympics and Paralympics during these difficult times, and therefore athletes should do their best while flying the national flag high with pride.

“Qualifying for the Games is a dream that all of us hoped for when we were young but we never achieved it. You should remember that you are just a few from our population who qualified for the Games and you will be flying our country’s flag high,” Geingob said, adding that those who qualified should be proud of themselves because their hard work managed to get them to a stage where they will compete with the best in the world.

‘Win and lose with pride’

He also told the athletes to give it their all during the competition despite the circumstances they will find themselves in.

“The late president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, used to say ‘you must win and lose with pride’ and therefore I call on you to give it your all.

Even if you are last, continue running because we will still cheer for you and the Namibian flag will be represented,” he said.

Inside Japan’s Olympic village‘Tokyo is hot and humid’ Namibia’s chef de mission has described the situation in the Olympics village as precautious ahead of the Tokyo Games, which begin this week.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

The head of mission from the Namibia National Olympic Committee, Dawie Augustyn, said the conditions in Japan at the moment are very hot and humid.

Augustyn, who has been in Japan since last Thursday, however believes the Namibian athletes will have enough time to adapt to the conditions.

He left Namibia earlier to make sure everything was in place as they wait for the arrival of the Namibian team.

“It has been hectic here; I came first to sign off everything as we know that the whole team will not be together.

“The protocols are that athletes will have to leave within 48 hours after finishing their event,” Augustyn said.

Isolated village

He said the Olympic village is well monitored and isolated from the rest of the world.

However, Tokyo Olympics organisers yesterday reported the first Covid-19 cases among competitors residing in the athletes' village.

Last week, Japan reported 1 149 new infections - the highest number of daily cases since 22 January.

Health officials have already warned that the increase in cases signals a fifth wave, predicted to be more infectious due to different variants and the low vaccination rate in that country.

Renewed state of emergency

Amid rising cases, the Japanese government declared a renewed state of emergency for Tokyo and the surrounding regions last week and Olympics organisers announced that no fans would be allowed at events in those areas.

The sporting spectacle is expected to draw close to 90 000 international athletes, support teams and journalists.

Augustyn said, however, that they aren’t aware of what is happening in the outside world.

“We do not have much news from the outside but here everyone is tested daily and wearing masks is mandatory,” he said.

Augustyn also said a large number of health officials will make sure everything is in place.

Team Namibia comprises of 11 athletes and 17 supporting staff members consisting of coaches, managers, medical staff and Namibia National Olympic Committee and government officials.

I see four medals – FredericksFormer sprinter optimistic about medals Former athlete Frank Fredericks has sent a positive message to Namibia’s Olympic team as they travel to Tokyo for the Games starting on 23 July.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK

Frank Fredericks, the most celebrated Namibian athlete yet, used social media to send words of encouragement to Namibian athletes who will be competing at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

“In a few days, the Olympic Games will start. All the best to all the athletes with their last preparations to achieve their dreams. The Games of 1992 forever changed my life. It was a wonderful feeling to be the flag bearer and also to be the first to win a medal for my beloved Namibia,” he said.

He added that he foresees four medals coming from the team.

Boxer hopes for medals

Former boxer Immanuel Prince Naidjala shared Fredericks’s sentiments and predicted that the team will return to the country with medals.

“This year I see gold and two more medals,” he said, adding that being a flag bearer at a such a prestigious event is forever special.

Namibia will be represented by ten athletes at the Games, after cyclist Dan Craven tested positive for Covid-19 only days before their departure.

The ten athletes who will represent Namibia at the Games are boxer Jonas Junias, rower Maike Diekmann and sprint sensations Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, who will be the flag bearers at the opening and closing ceremonies.

The other athletes are seasoned marathoner Helalia Johannes, Rainhold Tomas, cyclists Vera Looser, Michelle Vorster and Alex Miller, as well as open-water swimmer Philip Seidler.

Looser shares her journey

Looser used her social media account to share her experiences in Japan.

“So, let me quickly tell you about my first 17 hours on Japanese ground. It will be as quick as the welcoming procedures,” she posted.

She wrote that she left Switzerland at 23:40 on Sunday. “I was super excited, because it was my first time flying business class. What an incredible experience. I had a direct flight to Tokyo and I felt super fresh after the 11-hour flight. I arrived in Tokyo at 17:00 local time. Now that’s where the fun begins.

“After standing in line for two hours, we finally got to do the Covid test. But after that you still need to go through quarantine and immigration control. No problem. We have time, so after four-and-a-half hours we finally got our luggage.

“I was told it was two and a half hours to the hotel. Don't get too excited Vera, you haven't received your Covid test results yet. Lucky me, I was on the same plane as the Swiss MTB and road cycling team. At least we had a good time playing cards and waiting for our results.

“Another two-and-a-half hours passed and at 23:30, we were finally told that our bus had arrived. We received the results and we had all tested negative. I got excited again. This night might have an end. By the time we actually left the airport with the bus, it was around 01:00.

“But before I was dropped at the Fuji Lake Hotel (cycling hotel) we had to drop the Swiss and Spanish at the other cycling hotel.

“By the end of my little bus trip in Japan I was ‘stoksiel alleen’ in the bus and it started getting light outside. I must admit it was pretty.

“I got to the hotel at 04:45. I was in bed by 05:15. And got up again at 08:30, since breakfast is only until 09:00 and remember, my last meal was the breakfast in the plane. Now to build my bikes,” she said.

Institutions of higher learning at cutting edge of technology The High Technology Transfer Plaza Select (HTTPS) building was inaugurated virtually on 15 July. The HTTPS facilitates co-creation and co-development that can unlock specialised expertise amongst the youth and investment opportunities in the digital economy through research and development.

Desiree Gases

Right now, in the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that continues to wreak havoc in our communities, institutions of higher learning must be at the forefront of responding to the needs of the people. The HTTPS is a state-of-the-art multi-million-dollar innovation hub that offers a conducive integrated ecosystem for sustainable technology transfer. The aim is to ensure that technological and scientific developments are available to a wider audience.

HTTPS is to optimally utilise this facility as a cost-effective, functional technology inspired ecosystem, where academia and industry meet to improve competitiveness through transdisciplinary research, co-creation, co-development, application and transfer of specialised knowledge and technology, aligned with signature programmes. This anchors the university as a vital centre of competence to assist in tackling social challenges and drive economic growth.

This is certainly a milestone achievement, not only for the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) community, but also for the entire education sector and the business community at large.

The HTTPS speaks directly to the fostering of innovation through the transfer of technology and knowledge between higher education institutions, businesses and various development partners.

It is well positioned to foster an immersive engagement in physical and virtual spaces for open accelerated innovation. Technology transfer usually happens at a smaller sporadic scale within isolated technology transfer or research and innovation offices in universities or the industry.

“What is distinctively different about the HTTPS is the size, the intensity and scale at which technology transfer will happen. Therefore, HTTPS is not an office nor a building, but an ecosystem that brings various technology actors together - irrespective of size or the type of sector,” NUST vice-chancellor Dr Erold Naomab said. The centre will house some incubator initiatives that until now have been scattered across Namibia. Through virtual and physical collaboration platforms, the plaza becomes a consolidated point of contact for some of Namibia’s sharpest and brightest minds to cross-pollinate ideas with local and visiting scholars, researchers, industry experts and ICT stakeholders.

The projects to be undertaken within the HTTPS will be based on cutting-edge digital technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Cyber Security, X Reality, Big Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomous Robotics, and Edge Computing.

The funding programme has received commendation from the Vice President of Namibia, Dr Nangolo Mbumba. In his address during the inauguration of the HTTPS, he pointed out the positive impact this commitment will bring into Namibia’s human capital skills base for its capability of creating potential top talent and competent workforce for the future.

Universities and industries have been collaborating for decades, and the rise of a global knowledge economy has intensified the need for strategic partnerships beyond the traditional funding of discrete research projects.

Additionally, the plaza will aid in implementing procedures and various instruments for delivering quality postgraduate programmes and facilitating student research through mentorship and funding.

The university secured a N$51 million partnership with MTC, Namibia’s largest mobile telecommunications company, and the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) has provided N$40 million worth of funding to establish the SASSCAL Graduate Studies Programme in Integrated Water Resource Management (SGSP - IWRM) implemented at NUST.

The SGSP - IWRM will constitute an innovative and excellent regional collaborative education and research programme at PhD degree level complemented by selected tailor-made short courses that are aimed at capacitating decision-makers and the industry. Similar partnerships are established with the German Development Agency, GIZ and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group.

SASSCAL executive director Dr Jane Olwoch hailed the bold move and in particular the strategic partnership that NUST exco and management has provided towards the establishment of the SGSP-IWRM. She said “this programme has come at a time when the state of water resources in terms of availability and quality are of a critical concern for so many SADC member states”.

She also stressed that climate change, resultant droughts together with domestic, agricultural and industrial demands have worsened the vulnerability of the water sector in the region.

The three-year PhD programme is planned to officially kick off in September with 15 students to be enrolled at NUST until August 2024. The HTTPS will enable the university to increase its offerings at the postgraduate level. Developing new skills for Namibia’s next generation workforce and a channel for future recruitment of top talents offer resilience and connectivity as part of this initiative.

Wolwedans Desert Academy and Social Security partnershipTourism and hospitality industry supports students Wolwedans Desert Academy (WDA) started in 2007, which means it has been active in the vocational training industry for 14 years. The training initiative is managed and governed by the Wolwedans Foundation.

Monique Adams

The academy offers a variety of courses that focus mainly on the tourism and hospitality industries, while more recently the curricula development targets the complementary field of agriculture.

The course details are as follows:

Tourism and hospitality (NQA accredited and NTA registered)

Level 2 (10 months): Accommodation services, food and beverage services

Level 3 (18 months): Food and beverage operations

Level 3 (18 months): Commercial cookery

Agriculture (pilot and inaugural intake in 2021-22)

Level 2 (11 months): Horticulture and crop husbandry

Level 3 (18 months): Crop and horticulture production

With agriculture being a recent addition to the curriculum, the academy will be piloting its first intake this year and is very excited about that. This creates opportunities for growers and distributors in the local economy, making a supply chain management easier for tourism businesses by not having to order from larger, distant centres. It improves the quality of the guests’ experience by offering seasonal, fresh and healthy ingredients for meals.

“All of this ties in with our vision and the 5Cs sustainable framework that guides us at Wolwedans. To nurture Namibia’s youth so that they are ‘work-ready’ when they graduate and in fields that can support sustainable development to the country is in everyone’s best interest,” Philip Rehyer from the Wolwedans Academy said.

So far, over 300 youth have graduated from WDA to date, which includes those who graduated through their Windhoek training base at the Namibia Institute of Culinary Education (NICE).

Recently, the Social Security Commission collaborated with WDA to award bursaries to tourism and hospitality students, which cover tuition fees, room and board at their desert-based campus in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, transport and uniforms. The trainees will only need a budget for any incidentals or pocket money to buy snacks at the tuck shop.

The bursaries are available for the tourism and hospitality programme. Sixteen applicants will be selected from among the applications received and offered bursaries for the duration of the programme (two and a half years for Levels 2-3). The balance of placements – four seats – are partly funded by the Wolwedans Foundation and other private and public donors.

Their pilot programme in agriculture has also received funding for 12 bursaries, which will be offered to successful applicants as a result of the generous contributions of Germany-based non-governmental organisation, ConTine.

The admission requirements are as follows:

Minimum: Pass in Grade 10 (preferably Grade 12)

English proficiency and communication skills (speak, read, write)

Basic numerical skills (highly necessary)

Applicants must be 18 to 24 years of age

A positive attitude and friendly personality (a pre-requisite in the tourism and hospitality industries)

Who should apply:

Anyone who meets the above admission requirements

Unemployed Namibian youth with “fire in their belly” and a burning desire to advance themselves in life

Youth from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds

Namibian youth from the Hardap and //Karas regions are strongly encouraged to apply due to their close proximity to the campus

People with disabilities and who are from marginalised communities are encouraged to apply and will be given preference provided they meet all other admission requirements.

Candidates must go through an extensive recruitment screening process as the selection is largely determined by which applicants have a suitable personality and passion for the tourism and hospitality trade.

Botha, Masilingi and Mboma await Covid results

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

WINDHOEK

Two of Namibia’s top sprinters, Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, and their coach, Henk Botha, expect to receive their first Covid-19 results before boarding a plane to Tokyo.

The trio will then do another test on Thursday before flying to Japan on Friday.

Botha, who is currently in Grootfontein, revealed yesterday that he and the girls had taken the test yesterday and the samples were sent to Windhoek for verification.

“We will wait for these results before doing another test again on Thursday.

“I actually did a rapid test on ourselves today and we were fine and therefore we can only hope for good results from the lab.

“We are doing this as standard and required procedures for the Olympics,” Botha said.

The two athletes and their coach will get another test upon their arrival in Japan.

“We plan on boarding a flight by Friday in order for us to have ample time to get accustomed to the Japanese weather and all,” Botha added.

The Olympic Games are scheduled for 23 July to 8 August, while the Paralympic Games will take place from 24 August to 5 September.

Christine and Beatrice will compete in the 200-metre sprint at the Games.

They will only be in action from 2 August. There are seven 200-metre heats lined up for 2 August. The semi-final is scheduled for the same say, while the final is set for 3 August.

Geingob backs Mboma, MasilingiPresident says Namibia will protest President Hage Geingob has encouraged Namibian athletes to give it their all in the events they will be competing in at the Olympics. NAMPA

President Hage Geingob said he was disappointed with the decision taken by World Athletics to disqualify Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma from competing in the 400-metre (m) race at the Olympics.

Earlier this month, World Athletics announced that the two sensational Namibian sprinters were barred from competing in the 400m event at the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan after being found to have naturally-occurring testosterone levels beyond those specified by World Athletics.

Speaking during the sending off ceremony of the Olympics athletes on Friday, Geingob said: “This discrimination that is brought up when an athlete is doing well must come to an end.”

He said the Namibian government would protest World Athletics rules on ‘Athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD)’ following testing conducted by the global body.

World Athletics bars athletes classified as DSD from competing in the 400, 800 and 1 500-metre races in the female category unless they artificially reduce their testosterone levels, which the global body claims give the runners an unfair advantage.

“This is the first time you are going to compete at these Games and even if you don’t win we are still going to cheer behind you because you will be flying the Namibian flag high,” he said.

Earlier this month 18-year-old Mboma ran the seventh-fastest 400m time by a woman in the world when she competed in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Her time of 48.54 seconds, the fastest time in that event for this year, made her a prime candidate for gold in the event at Tokyo.

Despite being barred from competing in the 400m, both Mboma and Masilingi will be able to compete in the 100m and 200m events and the two sprinters will be making their maiden appearance at the competition in the 200m sprint.

The rescheduled Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, will take place between 23 July and 08 August 2021.

Brisbane ready to 'gamble' on 2032 Olympics NAMPA/AFP

Recent Olympics have been wracked by controversy, cost blowouts and coronavirus chaos but the residents of Brisbane, strongly tipped to host the 2032 Games, look ready to welcome the event with open arms.

The sun-drenched Australian city appears all but certain to be anointed 2032 hosts on Wednesday when the International Olympic Committee holds a vote in Tokyo ahead of the delayed 2020 Games.

In other cities, a bid to host an event of such magnitude might prompt demonstrations, or at the very least vigorous public debate. Yet residents of Brisbane have greeted the news with enthusiasm.

"The city is gorgeous, the people are beautiful. And it would be lovely to get something like this happening in the city," Marium Ammar, who moved to Brisbane from Pakistan seven years ago, told AFP.

Qatar had also been in the running to host the 2032 Olympics and there was a long-shot joint bid between South and North Korea.

But being wealthy and sports-mad puts Australia in poll position, according to Judith Mair, a tourism and events expert at the University of Queensland.

"Australia's in a very fortunate position of being able to afford to stage one of these big events," she told AFP.

"There are many countries around the world that might perhaps like to but actually are not in a financial position to be able to do so."

Australia has already hosted the Olympics twice, in Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000, widely considered one of the most successful Games in recent history.

Home to about 2.3 million people and bookended by shimmering coastal sands, Brisbane is seen as more laid-back and less cosmopolitan than Australia's sprawling southern cities.

Venues would be spread across Brisbane and nearby towns in Queensland state, including the Gold Coast which hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

There are hopes the Olympics would boost Brisbane's international profile, making it more attractive to tourists who tend to use it as a jumping-off point for attractions like the Great Barrier Reef.

"I travelled the world and they say, 'Where's Brisbane?' And you have to get out the map and show them it's an hour north by plane of Sydney," said Queensland Olympic Council president Natalie Cook.

"That's going to change. And that is so exciting."

Games organisers trialled a new dialogue-based bid system for 2032 after cities shied away from the previous competitive process, wary of soaring costs and being lumbered with white elephant stadiums.

The so-called "New Norm" reforms unveiled in 2018 also allow for the use of existing venues, including smaller-capacity stadiums, as well as temporary infrastructure.

With about 85 percent of venues already built in and around Brisbane, Australia is hoping these changes will keep costs down. The city projects an operating budget of Aus$4.5 billion (US$3.4 billion) compared to US$15.4 billion for the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games.

The IOC is chipping in Aus$2.5 billion, and with ticket sales and sponsorship expected to cover the rest, Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates has predicted the event would break even.

Millicent Kennelly, a senior lecturer in tourism and sport at Griffith University, said rosy economic projections should be "taken with a grain of salt" given the history of Olympic events failing to stay on budget.

"I think there's a degree of risk associated with taking on an event of that scale so far in advance," she added.

"There's been a huge amount of uncertainty globally for quite some time, financially with (issues like) Covid, climate change. So it is a gamble in that respect."

Brisbane's bid is being championed by centre-left Queensland state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and has support from across Australia's political divide, including from the conservative federal government.

No public polling has been released but officials say community engagement has been positive, and a feasibility study by consultants KPMG estimates the event could bring Aus$17.61 billion in economic and social benefits to Australia.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, who has travelled to Tokyo to make a final pitch to the IOC, said Wednesday's vote marked a "crucial turning point in the city's history".

"This is going to be a pivotal moment for Brisbane and Queensland. This is a moment that people will remember," he said.

Resident Louise Corrigan, 46, said her only potential concern would be if younger generations were left saddled with debt, but she "absolutely" supported a well-budgeted Olympics in Brisbane.

"I can't wait to attend," she told AFP. "I just think it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Star teacher of the Week Jandré van Wyk is a PE teacher for grade 1 to 7 and the sports coordinator at Roots Gymnasium. “My passion is sports development amongst children, not only within the school, but the country at large.”

When and why did you decide to become a teacher?

During my first year at university I had the opportunity to coach a young rugby team. This is where my passion and love for sports development amongst children started. It is something that makes me truly happy in life.

What is the best part about being a teacher?

The best part about being a teacher for me is to experience the growth of each child and to see the joy on their faces when they learn something new. It is something I’ll always cherish in the work I get to do daily.

Can you tell us of your journey towards becoming a teacher.

My journey started with studying sport science and coaching younger rugby teams whilst I was studying. In my fourth year of studying, I started with human movement science and psychology where I then starting coaching older rugby teams. This has been a rewarding and exciting journey.

What has been the highlight of your teaching career thus far?

The highlight has to be the privilege of being part of the amazing staff and team at Roots Gymnasium. This school of excellence focuses on and invests in child development, and this will always be my passion in life.

What are some of your hobbies or things you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In my free time I’m a farmer who loves my sheep and my hunting rifle. Being on the farm and among my animals during weekends will always bring me great joy.

What lessons have you learned from your learners?

Definitely to be positive and happy. My learners have shown me that nothing ever stands in their way of having that great smile on their faces. They don’t let worries or troubles get them down, and that is truly amazing.

What is the one thing that keeps you going every day?

My determination to achieve success in the progression of childhood development will always keep my going. I want to assist in this regard not only within schools and our school communities, but create these opportunities for every child in Namibia.

Next generation gamersWhere education meets innovation The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and MTC have created the Game Design Jam competition as a way of introducing STEAM-related subjects to learners in a fun and interactive way.

Mariselle Stofberg

The first ever NUST-MTC Game Design Jam has been created as a response to wanting to assist learners in performing well in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM)-related subjects.

The competition challenged learners with the task of designing and creating a prototype of a computer or board game, with the challenge of incorporating mathematics into the game and finding a creative way to promote MTC products as well.

In total, 34 teams from seven regions applied to participate, but only 10 teams managed to submit and present their games. The dynamic duo from Amazing Kids Private School and Academy, Berhane Tangeni and Shiimi Anongeni, emerged victorious with their game Don't Be Late! Konita Games.

“Our game Don't Be Late was about the character in the game who needed the player to answer math questions to get to school on time. The Game Design Jam was a great experience where I learnt a lot of skills while designing my game. It was a great opportunity for me to challenge myself to help solve a problem in our community. I received a lot of support in the competition from my mom, dad, siblings, cousins, friends and my computer teacher. I am also grateful that God helped me in my journey through this competition,” Tangeni said.

“The competition helped me to realise that there are many was to make a game that can involve education and help students learn. I will like to thank NUST and MTC for hosting this event and I will like to thank my friends, teachers and family for their support and, most importantly, my aunty for letting me know so I can be part of this competition,” Anongeni said.

“We want to expose learners to other career opportunities in the game development sector while ensuring that they solve tangible problems through innovation and creativity. The platform further aims to create a pool of experts who can pragmatically address social and economic problems through gamification in and for Namibia,” Gabriel Nhinda, an informatics lecturer at NUST, said.

“The NUST-MTC Game Design Jam wishes to create an opportunity for industry partners like MTC to raise service and product awareness among their clients though gamified service advertisements on different game platforms. This year, we focused on gamifying the National Institute for Educational Development’s (NIED) National Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) mathematics curriculum,” he added.

The competition had a call for participation for schools, learners and parents to apply for participation. Upon the call for application closing, all participants were contacted with important dates that including training sessions.

Interactive training

Training sessions included basics of game design and how to create a compelling video facilitated by the Muhoko Society. “We also had a training session on presentation skills by Chubo Zeko from Zambia. For the competition, learners were not restricted to creating computer games but were allowed to create diverse types of games such as card games, board games or any other types of games, if they fit into the theme of solving mathematics, thus letting learners use their creativity to the fullest. All while they advertise MTC services and products through gameplay,” Nhinda added.

The judging of the games was done in two rounds. During the first round, the teams were split into three groups and judged by a panel of judges. The judges' composition was made up of a learner, math teacher, a judge from MTC, game designers and developers, industry experts, and some of NUST's stakeholders. This was done on 1 July.

“We initially wanted a top five to present to a panel of judges, however, we had a tie and ended up with a top six. The six qualifying teams presented on Friday, 2 July to a live online audience and a panel of judges. The top three teams received a monetary prize and a trophy. Don't Be Late! Konita Games came in first and received a prize of N$12 000. The Download placed second and won N$9 000 and Trigonometric Dash placed third and won a total of N$6 000.

The winners will be mentored further through the High-Tech Transfer Plaza Select (HTTPS).

“This was our first event, and the interest has been overwhelming. We saw that there is great need for these types of activities and we plan on making this an annual event. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between NUST and MTC facilitated the partnership between the two entities. The MOU is a strategic partnership tool, specifically meant to challenge, innovate, disrupt and bringing about rapid development within the technology space of our country,” Nhinda said.

Omulilo gwahanagulapo oombashu nokudhipaga omulumentu komunkulofuta Konima yomulilo ngoka gwa holoka nokuhanagulapo oTwaloloka mOmbaye, okwa lopotwa omililo mbali dhoka dha etitha eyonagulo moondoolopa dhokomunkulofuta. ADOLF KAURE

SWAKOPMUND

Ø Omuntu gumwe okwa hulithile moshiponga shomulilo mOmbaye

Oombashu dha thika po 36 odha hanagulwapo komulilo miiponga iyali ya lopotwa ehuliloshiwike.

Omulilo ngoka ogwa faalele woo omwenyo gwomulumentu gumwe, nokuthiga oofamili odhindji pomutenya.

Kwiikwatelelwa kukomanda gwiipambele yoshigwana mOpolisi mOshitopolwa shErongo, Omukonaakoni, Ileni Shapumba, okwa popi kutya oombashu 33 odha pipo molukanda DRC moSwakopo.

Inaku lopotwa ekanitho lyomwenyo momulilo gwomoDRC, ihe omulumentu gumwe okwa hulithile moshiponga shomulilo mOmbaye, konima owala yoowili ooshona sho kwa lopotwa omulilo gwomoDRC.

Otaku lopotwa kutya okanona kokamati koomvula hetatu hoka kali megumbo namumwayina kadhona gwoomvula 15 okali taka dhanene okapalwa hoka ka teme na okwe ka umbile kombinga hoka ku na okasiga kohaasa.

Shoka osha etitha ombashu yi hwame omulilo. Oshiningwanima shoka osha ningwa lwopotundi onti 13:20.

“Okamati hoka oka yi ontuku nokuthigapo mumwayina ngoka a li ta kambadhala okudhima omulilo ihe ogwe mu nyenge,” Shapumba a popi.

Okadhimamulilo mondoolopa ndjoka oye shi pondola okuthima omulilo ngoka, nonando ogwa dhimwa ogwa yonaagula nale oshindji.

Omunambelelwa omukuluntu gwondoolopa yaSwakpo, Archie Benjamin okwa popi kutya okwa ningwa omahala gopathimbo gokuza aakwashigwana mboka, pokapale komaudhano moMondesa.

Okwa gandjwa ootenda omugoyi oshowo omatalashe nomakumbatha geli 35.

Kansela gwoshikandjohogololo shaSwakopo, Ciske Howard-Smith okwa ningi omalongekidho giikulya okupitila mombelewa ye.

Nguka omulilo omutiyali omunene komunkulofuta ngoka muule owala woomwedhi 12, konima yomulilo ngoka gwa hanagulapo oombashu moTwaloloka, gwa faalele omwenyo gwokanona kokamati nokuthiga omathele kaye na omahala.

Konima owala yomulilo gwomoDRC, okwa lopotwa oombashu ndatu dha pi mOmbaye moKuisebmond, omulilo ngoka ogwa faalele omwenyo gwomulumentu gumwe.

“Otaku fekelwa kutya omulilo ogwa tameke mombashu yanakusa sho taku fekelwa kutya okwali ta teleke pethimbo ndyoka omulilo gwa tukuka.”

Nakusa ina tumbulwa kedhina natango.

OLOPOTA YA GWEDHWAPO KUERWIN LEUSCHNER

Omahala gokukwatela openzela moKavango East guudha noonkondo KENYA KAMBOWE

TJOVA

Nonando epangelo olya holola kutya oopresenda 55 dhomaso goCovid odhaakokele yoomvula 60, aantu oyendji otaya ngundumana pamwe pomahala gokukwatela openzela, omahala ngoka yamwe ya popi kutya otaga vulu okukala ompito yetaandelitho lyombuto ndjoka.

Oshifokundaneki shoNamibia Sun mehuliloshiwike osha talelepo omahala mpoka tapu kwatelwa openzela yaakokele yoN$1 300 momikunda dhimwe, nokunongela kutya omilandu itadhi landulwa.

Kakele kokuya pondje ompango tayi utha engundumano lyaantu inaya konda 10, okwa monika kutya eikalo kokule nokuzala uumaska itali tulwa miilonga.

Sho a ningilwa omapula omunambelewa omukomeho guundjolowele, Ben Nangombe okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya oshi li oshinakugwanithwa shaalongekidhi ngele opopenzela nenge omafumbiko opo ya kwashilipaleke kutya omilandu otadhi landulwa.

“Ngele oya ndopa nena aakondjithili yoompango miilonga naya longe shoka ye na okuninga opo ompango yi tulwe miilonga,” Nangombe a popi.

Omupeha komufala gwopolisi yaKavango East, Vilho Kalwenya okwa popi kutya opolisi oya nongele engundumano pomahala gopenzela, ta popi kutya uupyakadhi otawu etithwa kwaamboka kaye na omapitikilo okulanditha pomahala ngoka na ohaya landitha ya landula oopenzela.

Kalweenya okwa popi kutya opolisi otayi ka ungaunga noonakupogola.

kenya@namibiansun.com

For the love of karateMartial arts school Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Association was established 42 years ago. Catering to over 220 members “We aim to improve the quality of life of all of our members and to make a positive impact on the world.” – Sensei Carl van der Merwe

Enzo Amuele

The martial arts school Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate was established by Sensei Hennie De Vries in 1979. Now being in existence for 42 years, the school has over 220 students in both Windhoek and Walvis Bay.

Okinawa, Japan, is the birthplace of karate, while Goju-Ryu is one of the four original karate styles.

It is Japanese for "hard-soft style", and is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques.

The school teaches traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate as developed for self-defence. Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Namibia (OGKN) prides itself on practicing traditional karate.

“Our goal is practical, real-world self-defence whilst placing a strong emphasis on karate’s core values: Courtesy, honesty, integrity, loyalty, discipline and respect,” the school said.

At OGKN, they believe that karate-do training benefits all practitioners, regardless of their age, race, gender, or nationality.

According to sensei Carl van der Merwe, the school enrols members from the age of six.

“There is no maximum age. We had a student who started at the age of 58 years and obtained his black belt. Some of our senior students are more than 50 years old.

“My direct teacher is a ninth degree black belt and is 76 years old. His direct teacher is 85. They still train every day”, he said.

Separate classes

The school has separate classes for children’s beginners, juniors and advanced; teen beginners to intermediate; adults, and finally senior students.

Benefits of martial arts

Concentration: “We have multiple examples where the school results of students improved due to better concentration.”

Reflexes: “A reaction that can save your life - like in traffic.”

Awareness: “Noticing what is happening around you, as we practice in karate classes.”

Coordination: “Vital for many everyday actions like driving a vehicle.”

Discipline: “It is not a team sport, you can find many excuses not to go and train. In team sports, you do not want to let your teammates down so you are motivated to go and train.”

Full body workout: “Karate involves blocking, punching and kicking, so all the muscles are used.”

Is Namibia ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution? President Hage Geingob has appointed a task force to assist in preparing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The task force has 12 months to determine whether Namibia is ready. “It is seemingly too early to talk about 4IR when we cannot even do online learning for every phase of education from primary to varsity.”-Rivaldo Kavanga - committee chairperson of the Children’s Parliament Enzo Amuele

Namibia and some parts of the world are being steered into a new industrial forthcoming, which is set to change the way we live.

The world has faced three industrial revolutions - the first focused on steam power and mechanisation of manufacturing; the second on mass production; the third on internet technology.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) will build on the third, but be fundamentally different in its scope and complexity.

Major transformations should be expected that promise to be disruptive to all industries everywhere, especially for their production systems, management as well governance.

According to Rivaldo Kavanga in his capacity as the committee chairperson of the Children’s Parliament, 4IR has come to better our lives with technology.

“4IR means the coming of an age where technology is more advanced and helps us to live our lives more efficiently and effectively,” he said.

Kavanga added that a small minority of the Namibian youth will have the bare minimum skills to perform the special task that comes with 4IR, however, a large group of young people will not be able to perform or cooperate with the revolution.

“It is seemingly too early to talk about 4IR when we cannot even do online learning for every phase of education from primary to varsity.

“We cannot talk about 4IR while we still have students who start their first year at varsity and have to take two to three months to learn how to effectively use a laptop or computer. Simply put, the Namibian youth is not ready for 4IR”, he said.

The revolution will have both positive and negative implications on Namibia and the youth, as they are supposed to accelerate 4IR.

According to economist Mally Likukela, harnessing 4IR should answer real questions such as high unemployment.

“Namibia has graduated over 20 000 students last month. How is 4IR assisting these young graduates to secure opportunities? How is 4IR assisting government to root out corruption?” he asked.

He added that if 4IR does not speak to these questions, it will be just like any other initiative we’ve seen in the past.

“4IR must be that catalyst to the betterment of Namibia and the world at large; therefore we need to embrace it. We must not forget that it comes at a cost,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Hage Geingob appointed an eight-member task force on 5 July to assist the government in preparing for 4IR for 12 months.

In the appointment letter, Geingob said: “The establishment of a 4IR task force is set out under the economic advancement pillar of the Harambe Prosperity Plan II.

This task force will be required to determine the readiness of Namibia for 4IR and make recommendations towards a coordinated and coherent policy and legislative framework.

“Moreover, the task force should assist the government in harnessing the full potential presented by the confluence of technologies for the future of work and socio-economic development of Namibia,” he said.

Geingob appointed the pro-vice-chancellor of research, innovation and development at the University of Namibia (Unam), Professor Anicia Peters, as the chairperson of the task force.

According to Peters, one of the thematic areas of the task force will be funding instruments and investments on how to make it a reality.

Peters added that institutions like the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and Unam have started to revise curricula to ensure that students are equipped with the right skills to survive 4IR.

Okonjima video borders on blackmail - ministry ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

The tourism ministry has condemned a video being circulated by the Okonjima Nature Reserve seeking to raise funds for rhino conservation.

The ministry called the video unethical, reckless and bordering on blackmail.

Okonjima in the meantime has apologised for any misunderstanding that the video may have caused.

This follows shortly after the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha) condemned the video and called it tasteless.

“According to the video the current owner is in financial difficulty and may need to sell these rhinos for possible trophy hunting if no donation is received,” said ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda.

“This is tantamount to emotional blackmail and unethical conduct on the part of Okonjima Reserve.”

The video depicts a white rhino, with a narrator introducing him as a gay rhino named Ryan and telling how he lost his “trophy husband” to hunters.

“I know some hunters have their eye on me too,” Ryan the rhino says, adding that he needs a sugar daddy to can stay at Okonjima, safe from hunters and poachers.

Defending trophy hunting

Muyunda said the video creates the impression that Namibia’s trophy hunting industry is not sustainable.

“It must be noted that trophy hunting is a wildlife management practice which is done to enhance the protection of wildlife species rather eliminating them.”

Muyunda said the government would not permit an entire population of rhinos on a property to be hunted as that went against the country’s conservation principles.

“The video is also reckless as it has now exposed the rhinos as a security risk for being targeted by poachers by broadcasting their location on social media.”

He stressed that the ministry was not against private property owners raising funds to conserve wildlife on their properties, but that should be done in accordance with laws and policies.

Apology

Okonjima on Friday posted another video on its Facebook page in which the co-founder and owner of Okonjima, Wayne Hanssen, said he wanted to resolve some of the misunderstandings that have ensued.

“Our video was meant to be a different approach - a light-hearted, sassy approach, and purely seen from the Okonjima rhinos' perspective,” he said.

He said the campaign was aimed at saving a group of young rhino bulls that have been in Okonjima’s care since 2015.

“In essence, Okonjima has been the custodian of these rhino for several years, on behalf of their legal owner. The legal owner has now gotten permits for them to be hunted by trophy hunters.

“To prevent this, Okonjima/AfriCat negotiated with him that, should we be able to match the price per rhino offered by the trophy hunters, he would be willing for us to buy them from him rather than having them hunted as his source of income. Hence the campaign to raise these funds,” Hanssen explained.

Healing through creativityPottery and counselling Brigitte Greyling integrates art with healing by allowing her clients to get in touch with their creative side. ELIZABETH JOSEPH

KEETMANSHOOP

Brigitte Greyling has been in touch with her creative side for as long as she can remember, and now uses it as a form of healing - through pottery.

With several qualifications as a nail technician as well as in counselling, she started with her crafts more than 20 years ago and said her passion for it has only grown stronger.

“Sela Therapy Centre was started two years ago and is the counselling part of the business where I do multi-level brain neuron processing (MLNP) therapy as cognitive behaviour therapy. I qualified at Phillipi Trust and Perspective Training College under Dr Edgar Phillips. The MLNP therapy is a relatively young treatment, but with surprising outcomes,” she said.

Established three years ago, Bak Gat Pottery Studio is an initiative Greyling started to help integrate art with healing by allowing her clients to get in touch with their creative sides while dealing with trauma and problems they face on a day-to-day basis.

“This blends very well into the therapy side of my practice and we enjoy it tremendously. It creates a sense of accomplishment and self-worth with the participants and students. I absolutely love what I do,” she said.

Before Covid-19, her pottery class had nine students, however, the pandemic has resulted in the temporary cancellation of classes.

Worth it

Greyling said she caters to anyone from age 12 to 90. Payments for the therapy is done on a donation basis of N$150 for two hours, while the pottery classes are N$400 per month and N$0.10 per gram for the end product.

This includes the creations being fired twice: Once at 1 000 degrees Celsius and once at 1 260 degrees Celsius, as well as the glazes.

“The clay we use is stoneware white clay and I import it from Cape Town via courier services. Courier costs are double the cost of the clay, which makes it awfully expensive, but the joy and therapeutic treasure override the price and effort to obtain the clay,” she said.

She said the hardest part for her and her students is the fact that the south of the country does not have a big enough market to support them.

She lamented that the market is weak and her students mostly make products specifically ordered by a client or a product which will become a gift to a friend or family member.

“We would be overjoyed if we could find a place in the city centre in Keetmanshoop where we can sell our products,” she said.

Greyling’s students do most of their art and paintings with oil paint, glazes and alcohol ink. She mentioned this started as a personal journey for her 10 years ago and is a space where she - alongside her students - can experience solitude and peace.

Beauty from within

While busy with other projects, she owns and runs a nail salon called Touch of Class and said she enjoys making women feel special and seeing how their confidence increases after every session.

“Here we do gel and acrylic nails with different Bio Sculpture products, and the results are always stunning.”

Greyling said she is inspired by happiness, joy, personal growth, nature, the community and the fulfilment of a dream created by one’s own hands as well as the joy the products bring as a gift.

In future, she said she’d like to continue juggling all three of her businesses.

“Sometime in the in the near future, I would also like to work on an art project school for children in the south,” she added.

“Our young people truly need more healthy recreational spaces. Maybe there could also be a drama training facility added, something like the Drama Club in Windhoek.”

She wants to encourage artists to chase their dreams with passion and patience.

“You can pretty much learn to be a creative. Do not be afraid to try anything. You might just surprise yourself. Ask if you need help and gather any and all information on your subject,” Greyling encouraged.