Namibia targets medals at World Youth Games

NAPSO team arrives in Sweden, aiming for personal bests and podium finishes on the global stage.
Representing the Namibia Private Schools Organisation (NAPSO), a talented squad of young track and field stars has officially launched their European tour.
Precious Nghitaunapo
  • 5 Hours Ago

Namibia’s young athletes have officially begun their preparations for the 2026 World Youth Games, which take place in Gothenburg, Sweden, from today until Sunday.

The team, travelling under the Namibia Private Schools Organisation (NAPSO) as part of the NAPSO Europe Tour, arrived in Sweden and wasted little time getting onto the track for its first training session ahead of the international competition.

NAPSO chief executive Johan-André Fourie described the opportunity as a significant milestone for both the athletes and the organisation’s mission of creating opportunities for young people. “NAPSO is about giving opportunities to children, and that is why we are here. For them to see the world and participate in the Gothenburg World Youth Games is an amazing opportunity,” Fourie said.

He thanked sponsors and the NAPSO board for making the tour possible and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform on the international stage.

“We expect a lot of medals. We have excellent athletes here giving their best, but even beyond performances, the experience of competing on the world stage is invaluable,” he added.

Team manager and coach Hanjo de Klerk said the tour had started positively, with the first training session focusing on recovery and preparation following the long journey. “The athletes are looking good, the mood in the group is positive, and the facilities here are excellent. We’ve had our first meeting and discussed what we want to achieve from this event,” he said.

While medals remain a target, many athletes are also focused on improving their personal best performances against strong international competition.

“Most of them are targeting personal bests, so hopefully a few records will be broken, and we can bring a few medals home as well,” De Klerk said.

The World Youth Games is regarded as one of the largest youth athletics events in the world, attracting thousands of competitors from numerous countries. Napso representatives will compete in a range of track and field disciplines.