Windhoek:President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Thursday expressed pride in the achievements of Namibian athletes across various sporting codes, highlighting the country's growing commitment to sports at international competitions.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Nandi-Ndaitwah made these remarks during the official flag handover ceremony for Team Namibia, which took place at State House in Windhoek. The ceremony was held ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

The President acknowledged the seriousness with which Namibians approach sports, citing recent successes including the women's football and hockey teams' achievements. She officially handed over the national flag to Team Namibia, consisting of 12 athletes, who will participate in the Games scheduled in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026. The athletes will compete in athletics, beach volleyball, beach wrestling, boxing, cycling, swimming, and triathlon.

Nandi-Ndaitwah urged the athletes to represent Namibia with pride and discipline, emphasizing that their contributions should not be judged solely on medal counts. She described the Dakar 2026 Games as historic, being the first Olympic event on African soil since the establishment of the modern Olympic Movement.

She also underscored the importance of developing a sustainable sporting system in Namibia, which includes identifying and nurturing talent and improving infrastructure. The President noted that sport is a vital part of national development under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which aims to enhance participation, infrastructure, and professionalisation in the sector.