The Namibia National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association (NNOC-CGA) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening sporting cooperation between the two countries.

The agreement was signed on 2 November 2026 at the NOC Services Building in the Youth Olympic Village in Dakar, Senegal, during the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. NNOC-CGA President Dr Ndeulipula Hamutumwa and IOA President Dr P.T. Usha signed the agreement in the presence of senior government and sporting officials from both nations.

The partnership seeks to leverage India’s expertise in several internationally successful sports, including cricket, hockey, badminton, boxing, wrestling, athletics, archery and shooting. Through the agreement, Namibia hopes to enhance athlete development, high-performance programmes and coaching capacity.

Planned areas of cooperation include specialist coaching, athlete development programmes, training camps, technical exchanges, workshops and access to high-performance facilities in India. Particular emphasis will be placed on developing Namibian coaches to ensure long-term benefits for local sport.

Dr Hamutumwa described the agreement as an opportunity to create sustainable pathways for Namibian athletes to compete successfully at international level. NNOC-CGA Chief Executive Officer Anri Parker said the partnership forms part of a strategic effort to connect Namibian federations with countries that excel in sports where Namibia has growth potential.

The Namibia-India agreement forms part of a broader international cooperation strategy that also includes partnerships with China, the Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei, as Namibia strengthens preparations for future events, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Photo Credit: @namibianoc

By Rudi Bowe