Athletes with disabilities honoured Paralympic and Special Olympics athletes, guides and coaches received recognition awards on Thursday last week.The event was hosted by Disability Sports Namibia (DSN) and sponsored by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund and NamPower.
During the event, NamPower executive Nangolo Amunkete reassured DSN that they will continue supporting them.
“As an organisation we want to empower our communities in any way possible and we therefore want to reassure you that we will continue supporting disability sports as long as our resources allow us,” he stated.
NamPower contributes N$1.2 million per year towards DSN and the MVA gives N$100 000.
At the same occasion, the MVA''s chief executive officer also announced that they will continue their partnership with DSN for the next five years.
The Paralympic athletes who received recognition awards were Ananias Shikongo, Johannes Nambala, Tobias Moses, Elias Ndimulunde, Lahja Ishitile, Johanna Katjikuru, Rosa Mandjoro, Martin Aloisius, Johanna Benson, Tiheyo Kennedy (all athletics), Ruben Soroseb (powerlifting), Gideon Nasilowski, Angula Mateus (both swimming).
Wheelchair basketball players Agnes Hausiku, Pedro Nghishiwete, Ingo David, Roodly Gawoseb, Ricardo Ndero, Misika Zibiso and Mitch Dewaldt were also recognised.
The track athletes'' guides, Even Tjiviju, Sam Shimanda, David Ndeilenga and Andre Oberholster, were also honoured for their roles.
Special Olympics athletes who received awards were Sackeus Shigwedha, Goudesia Johannes and Matilde Shikongo (all for athletics and football).
A number of coaches were also recognised for their contribution towards sports for people with disabilities. They are Sonja Lindermeier, Richard Goraseb, Pondo Ndeilenga, Bjorn Magg, Ndamien Ndengu, Zikizee Mutenge, Charles Albert, Marius Grabbe and Arne Zitzke.
NAMPA