Namibia hails N$160k for every future Olympian
The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) has welcomed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to introduce a first-of-its-kind US$10 000, about N$165 900, grant for every eligible Olympian.
The grant will start with athletes who competed at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy in February, before extending to future editions of the Games.
Under the initiative, every eligible athlete at the Olympic Games will be able to apply for the “Fit for the Future Olympian Grant” for each edition of the Games in which they compete.
A statement issued by the IOC through its global athlete community, Athlete365, on Wednesday said the grant has been set up to support Olympians’ careers.
“A fund of US$140 million [N$2.3 billion] per Olympiad has been set aside, as announced by the chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Pau Gasol, during the 146th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland,” the statement read.
The IOC further noted that the move is among the first actions taken under the “Fit for the Future” strategic framework to find new and complementary ways to support athletes’ long-term sporting endeavours or career transition.
The grant is set to complement the IOC’s existing support programmes, with about 14 000 Olympians per cycle expected to be eligible for each edition of the Games in which they compete.
It will be delivered through existing National Olympic Committee (NOC) structures. The IOC also clarified that the grant will not reduce or take away from existing support provided to various international programmes.
“[These include] the NOCs, International Sports Federations, Organising Committees for the Olympic Games or Olympic Solidarity. If an Olympian chooses not to apply for this grant, their allocation will remain in the fund to benefit future Olympians.”
In his address, IOC Athletes’ Commission chair Gasol stressed that the grant will be available to every Olympian.
“While every athlete’s journey is different, every Olympian has made sacrifices to reach the Olympic stage. This is not prize money. This is about recognising the journey and commitment it takes to become an Olympian,” he said.
Athlete compensation
IOC president Kirsty Coventry added that the initiative has been a topic of discussion for many years, noting: “I am extremely proud that we are now able to do this.”
The grant follows a heated global debate over athlete compensation after Coventry, a former swimmer and seven-time Olympic medallist, said she did not believe in paying athletes at the Olympic Games during a Sport Nation interview in May.
Her remarks sparked widespread debate and criticism online, particularly among athlete-rights voices and within swimming circles.
Many critics felt Coventry’s wording sounded out of touch, arguing that Olympians generate the value of the Games but often struggle financially before and after competition.
She later clarified that she was referring to Olympic prize money, arguing that the IOC should instead find ways to support a wider group of athletes.
The new grant appears to answer part of that debate by offering direct support to every eligible Olympian, rather than limiting support to medal winners.
Eligible athletes for the grant include all athletes with an Aa accreditation, starting from Milano Cortina 2026.
An “Aa” accreditation is the official designation the IOC gives to competing Olympians to distinguish them from coaches, team staff, medical personnel, media and VIPs, who use different accreditation codes.
The IOC also noted that the grant is reserved for Olympians, with participants at the Youth Olympic Games not covered at this stage.
Additionally, Olympians who have committed anti-doping rule violations or breached the IOC Code of Ethics, conditions of participation or the Olympic Charter will not be eligible for the grant.
“The IOC will now work on the application and delivery mechanism for the grant, with the main aim of opening the application process for Milano Cortina 2026 at the end of this year, with the first payments being made in 2027,” the IOC said.
Reacting to the grant, NNOC president Dr Ndeulipula Hamutumwa welcomed the announcement, describing it as a positive step for the Olympic Movement, as it recognises every Olympian equally.
“For athletes from nations such as Namibia, where many athletes balance sport with studies, employment and other commitments, this type of direct athlete support can make a meaningful difference,” he said.
Eligible Namibian athletes
When Sport Wrap asked whether the NNOC had received guidelines from the IOC on how the application and payment process would work, Hamutumwa said the committee has yet to receive detailed operational guidelines.
“We expect the IOC to communicate further details to NOCs and athletes in due course. Once the final procedures are received, the NNOC will ensure that any relevant information is communicated to eligible Namibian athletes,” he said.
Looking ahead to qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the NNOC said it is still too early to state the exact number of athletes it hopes to qualify.
However, it is working closely with national federations and Olympic Solidarity to maximise qualification opportunities for Namibian athletes.
“Based on current projections and the athletes presently in the high-performance pathway, the NNOC would be pleased to see Namibia qualify a team of approximately 10 to 15 athletes across a range of sports,” Hamutumwa said.
More important than the final number, he said, is ensuring that athletes arrive at the Games well prepared, competitive and capable of producing personal-best performances on the Olympic stage.
“The next two years will be critical in determining the final size and composition of Team Namibia for LA28,” said Hamutumwa.
Three-time Olympian eyes another Games
Sport Wrap also spoke to three-time cycling Olympian Vera Adrian-Looser, who represented Namibia at Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, about the importance of the initiative for Olympians set to benefit.
“This is a very positive and welcome initiative from the IOC. [The allocated amount] is a lot of money for a lot of athletes, which is amazing,” she said.
“You get sports stars who earn millions of dollars, but the majority do it for the passion and love for sport and buy their own shoes. Beyond the financial aspect, it is an important recognition of the achievement of qualifying for the Olympics,” she noted.
“Reaching that level is already an extraordinary achievement. This initiative acknowledges that hard work and the commitment required to get there.”
Looser also revealed that she is aiming for a fourth Olympic Games, while opening up about her diagnosis of a non-atherosclerotic vascular condition that primarily affects highly trained endurance athletes such as competitive cyclists.
“I would love to go to another Olympics. Six weeks ago, I underwent surgery for endofibrosis, a problem I have been dealing with for years and finally got diagnosed this year,” she noted.
“I had to be off the bike until today [Wednesday]. I went for my first ride today, and it felt amazing. It will be a slow build-up back to my normal strength, but I am excited for what is to come!”
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