Namibia: Sam Nujoma Marathon Next Month

Carlos Kambaekwa

21 April 2011

Windhoek — Namibia’s long distance runners will get a chance of a lifetime to compete against the best athletes when the maiden edition of the annual Dr Sam Nujoma Windhoek Marathon gets underway on the 14th of next month.

Local telecommunications giant MTC has thrown its weight behind the newly mooted project – a brainchild of the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) – to become an annual event with the ultimate aim of putting the marathon on par with other internationally acclaimed events such as the New York, Paris and London marathons.

The event was launched in Windhoek yesterday and organizers are putting together a bumper programme with close to 1000 athletes, coaches, administrators and volunteers from all parts of Namibia are expected to join the fray.

Commissioner Amos Shiyuka said the NSC deemed it fit to dedicate the marathon to the Founding Father of the Nation, taking into consideration that a sports event be named after him as another way the Namibian sports fraternity could celebrate his life, demonstrating appreciation and gratitude for the personal sacrifices Dr Nujoma went through as a torch bearer during the liberation struggle.

“It’s indeed very encouraging to notice the overwhelming response we received from corporate organizations who came on board within a short period of notice when approached for financial and material assistance,” MTC Namibia pledged an amount of N$130,000 for the hosting of the event.

NSC is to have a gala dinner to promote the marathon at the Safari Hotel on the 27th of this month. Apart from the 42-kilometre marathon, there will be a 5-kilometre fun run and a 10-kilometre race for both male and female participants.

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