Para-athletes showing DHPS learners the ropes

WINDHOEK, 15 AUG  – Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC) athletes under the banner of Sport in the Move Foundation are engaged in giving tips to Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (DHPS) learners ahead of their Sports Olympiad.
DHPS will this year host the 17th edition of the Sports Olympiad (Olympic Day) of the German Schools in Southern Africa scheduled for 16 to 21 September in Windhoek, Namibia.
Sport on the Move Foundation, which usually gets financial assistance from DHPS to fund their athletes’ training as well as hosting of their activities, this year availed their services in training athletes who will be competing in track events during the Olympiad.
Speaking to Nampa recently, Ananias Shikongo who is a 2016 Rio Paralympic Games triple medallist said the disability athletes are happy to help the young athletes at DHPS.
“We have been giving basic training on how to sprint from the block and finishing to the athletes every Thursday. I am happy with the dedication shown by them for the time we have been training with them,” he said.
Shikongo said DHPS helped his foundation and giving basic training to their athletes ahead of the Olympiad is the least they can offer to their partner who has been there through thick and thin.
“Sport on the Move Foundation is working on creating awareness about disability sports in the country as well as giving a chance to those athletes who have nothing.
“We are now preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Games but us rendering assistance to young athletes who have never worked with disabled athletes like myself, is one way of inspiring them ahead of their competitions,” said Shikongo.
The athlete and his fellow 2016 Paralympic Games double silver medallist Johannes Nambala and Lahja Ishitile with her guide David Ndeilenge are the sportspersons giving basic training to the group of over 40 DHPS learners.
DHPS principal Kristin Eichholz told this agency that the school is preparing well for one of the biggest sporting days on their calendar.
“The Sports Olympiad is a big day for us and we are really grateful with the help we are getting from the Para-athletes in preparing our athletes.
“We have a relation with the foundation and fund some of their activities and avail our school facilities for training. Seeing these athletes giving back to our school means a lot to us,” she said.
NAMPA