Namibia hosting Region 5 Youth games spurred Youth Development, Regional Unity and Economic Growth
- campusconnectmag
- Aug 12
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Namibia hosted the 11th African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games from 4 to 13 July 2025. According to officials and organisers, this event delivered measurable improvements in youth sports development, regional integration, and national pride.
Over 2,500 athletes and officials were brought together from 10 different Southern African countries, competing in 12 sports disciplines, including football, basketball, volleyball, swimming netball, and the newly added karate and table tennis.
Namibia’s athletes earned 27 medals of which 8 are gold, 10 silver, and 9 bronze- moving the country from 7th to 3rd place on the medal table. Her Excellency President Neyumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah praised the team’s performance and the event’s success. She further stated that, “The successful conclusion of the games and the remarkable progress of the Namibian team is a source of pride and marks a step in the right direction for the professionalisation and development of sports in our country”.
The games contributed greatly to the economic growth of Namibia, including job creation, tourism, and infrastructure development. Local Organising Committee Chair Ndeulipula Hamutumwa described the event as a symbol of continental unity: “These games are a manifestation of what unites Africa. Sport is a viable business and a tool for building lives”.
Environmental sustainability was also emphasized by Dr. Decius Chipande, Coordinator of the African Union Sports Council who led a tree-planting ceremony and announced the donation of air monitors to Windhoek and Swakopmund to measure carbon emissions.
The CEO of the Region 5 Organising Committee, Stanley Mutoya, commended Namibia’s hospitality and organisational excellence: “Participants will leave Namibia with hearts full of satisfaction. The Games have shown Africa’s competitive power and the transformative impact of sport”.
The Games coincided with Region 5’s Silver Jubilee, reinforcing its legacy as a platform for youth empowerment and continental cooperation.
Seeing over 2,500 young athletes from across Southern Africa come together not only to compete but to build friendships and regional unity highlighted how sports can genuinely transform lives. Namibia’s rise to 3rd place with 27 medals, along with the focus on infrastructure, tourism, and even environmental sustainability, really shows how well-organized events can boost both national pride and economic growth. While following these developments, I also stumbled upon a detailed overview of 1win Somalia where you can read about their platform, online sports betting options, and casino games—seeing how structured platforms manage betting and deposits gave me a different perspective on managing risk and strategy, similar to how athletes prepare for competition. It’s fascinating how sport and gaming both…