Special Olympics targets N$250 000 with padel, plunge fundraiser

Padel
Staff Reporter
  • 9 Hours Ago

Special Olympics Namibia (SON) aims to raise between N$150 000 and N$250 000 through a new fundraising initiative that combines a padel tournament and ice-bath challenge to support athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The inaugural Padel and Plunge for Purpose event is scheduled for 21 November at Namibia Padel in Windhoek.

It will bring together corporate teams, social players and community members to raise funds for year-round sports training, health screenings and national team preparations.

The initiative was unveiled at a media and stakeholder breakfast held at the Namibia Cricket Grounds in Windhoek on Friday.

The event will feature a padel tournament alongside a Polar Plunge challenge, where participants will brave cold-water immersion in mobile ice baths after raising funds through pledges.


Padel meets Polar Plunge

The padel competition will feature Corporate Cup and Open Social divisions, both played in an Americano format.

Corporate teams of two can enter the Corporate Cup for N$2 500, while pairs wishing to compete in the Open Social division will pay N$800 per team.

The tournament will also feature a Unified Exhibition Match, bringing Special Olympics athletes together with business leaders and local celebrities on the court.

Meanwhile, the Polar Plunge will challenge corporate executives and community members to raise funds before taking a dip in ice-cold water.

Corporate executives will be expected to raise a minimum of N$5 000 in pledges from their colleagues and professional networks, while individuals can participate with a pledge of N$1 500.

SON chief executive officer Levien Smit said the initiative aims to bring communities together through sport while raising funds to give athletes with intellectual disabilities greater access to training, healthcare and competition.

“Sport possesses an unmatched power to dismantle barriers and build inclusive communities,” she said.

“Every serve on the court and every splash in the ice tub directly supports our athletes across 12 regions of Namibia, ensuring they receive the resources, healthcare, and training required to compete locally and globally.”


Call for support

SON board chairperson William De Arth called on businesses to support the initiative through team entries, sponsorships and participation in the Polar Plunge.

“We call upon Namibia’s business community to step onto the court and take the plunge for inclusion,” he said.

De Arth said companies could also contribute through sponsorship packages and court naming rights or by nominating their executives for the ice-bath challenge.

Organisers hope the combined event will attract support from beyond the sporting community while raising funds to strengthen opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The fundraising event will get underway at 07:00 on Saturday, 21 November, and continue into the afternoon.

Registration is open for corporate and social padel teams, as well as Polar Plunge participants, through the official registration form at https://q.my.na/960X

– mariud@nsh.com.na