Commonweatlh Games Credentials in Spotlight

With barely four months left before the 2010 Commonwealth Games gets under way in Delhi, India, in October, the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) has held several meetings where they engaged national federations/associations in discussions over the qualification of athletes for the global showpiece.

Criteria to that effect had been issued about a year ago. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) stands by its criteria and did not at any stage or moment adjust the criteria.

The NNOC has thus requested all the affected federations/associations to revisit the criteria and ensure that the athletes meet the set standards, times and positions in continental ranking (which should be first or second placing).

"We have extended the final qualification deadline to 31st August with the same criteria. We have received a number of names of athletes, whom the national federations or associations believed had met the set criteria.

"The CGF has carefully studied, reviewed and validated some of the supporting information and documents submitted with the athletes names," said NNOC executive member, Ndeulipula Hamutumwa, during a press conference in the capital yesterday.

The following athletes have achieved qualification standards but still have to show their fitness for the current season:

    * Beata Naigambo

    * Helalia Johannes

    * Reinhold Iita

    * Roger Haitengi has achieved the qualifying standard once and is required to meet the qualifying standard for the second time as per criteria.

Archery:

Ben van Wyk has achieved the qualification standard.

Boxing:

The qualification status of the boxers will be determined by AIBA and ABC Ranking for Africa, on which they need to be ranked champion, 1st or 2nd place.

Cycling:As per information obtained from the cycling federation, no Namibian cyclist currently ranks amongst the first two places in terms of the African Tour ranking.

Gymnastics:

The following athletes have qualified: Kimberly-Anne van Zyl and Robert Honnibal.

Bowls:

Both the Men and Women's Fours qualified for the Games and ten athletes will represent Namibia at the Games.

Shooting:

At this stage no athlete has qualified.

Swimming:

No swimmer has achieved the qualification criteria of 850 FINA points.

Wrestling:

At this stage, no athlete wrestler has met the qualifying standards. .

Rugby:
The Namibian Sevens rugby team is currently ranked 4th on the African continent and is unlikely to qualify as only the first best two ranked nations are allowed to enter.

Para Olympics:

The following athletes have achieved the qualification standard:

Johanna Benson Ruben Soroseb Reginald Benade

The CGF will support all those athletes who have qualified according to the above verification by CGF, with their preparations for the Games. Those federations or associations and athletes who are still seeking qualification are encouraged to keep on trying.

Despite the limited resources at its disposal, the CGF has committed itself to support athletes who have qualified and those on the verge of qualification.

Apart from the set criteria, NNOC has requested all is affiliates to submit their good standing certificates/invoices/receipts and or proof of membership for the period of January - December 2010, with the NNOC.

The deadline for the submission for the above must reach the NNOC offices by not later than 30th June 2010. Affiliates who fail to make their submission deadline day would be automatically exempted from consideration to participate in the prestigious Olympic Games.