NASA announces new sport categories
The Namibia Sport Commission (NSC), in partnership with the sports ministry, officially launched the 2026 Namibia Annual Sports Awards (NASA) at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) headquarters in Windhoek yesterday.
The prestigious 22nd Edition, which will be returning to Windhoek this year, is aimed at recognising, awarding and celebrating Namibia's elite and local sports stars on an international and national level.
Speaking at the launch, NSC chief administrator Dr Freddy Mwiya said: "We are committed to celebrating those who continue to raise the Namibian flag with pride. We do not follow standards. We set the standard."
NASA deputy director Magic Nyambe explained the technical overview of this year's awards, stating that they will focus on inclusivity to improve governance, transparency and international alignment.
Brand-new categories
The NSC has introduced four brand-new categories under the Special Commendation Awards, which will include:
1 Sport Administrator of the Year Award: Designed to recognise excellence in sport administration and governance.
2 Safe Sport Award: Highlighting the commission's commitment to safeguarding athletes and promoting safe, positive sporting environments.
3 Fair Play Award: Honouring individuals who embody integrity, ethical conduct and genuine sportsmanship.
4 Sustainable Sport Initiative Award: Celebrating organisations and initiatives that champion environmental responsibility, social impact and sustainability within sports.
Qualifying period
The qualifying period for this cycle covers all sporting achievements attained between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026, with all nominations strictly evaluated under a newly revised NASA Rule Book. The online nominations will officially open on the 17th of July and will close on the 31st of August. All national sport federations, sport bodies and eligible stakeholders are urged to note the dates to ensure their submissions are finalised on time.
Key structural changes to note
In addition to the new categories, several changes have been made to streamline the awards:
The Sport Star of the Year will no longer be a direct nomination category.
Instead, the winner will be automatically determined from the highest overall scoring finalist across all eligible athlete categories.
The former Federation of the Year Award and Community Inspiration Award have also been merged into a single category known as the Federation and Community Impact of the Year Award, as well as a single Sports Journalist of the Year Award, bringing together print, broadcast and digital journalism into one competitive category.
2026 Award Categories are as follows
1 Sport Star of the Year
2 Sportsman of the Year
3 Sportswoman of the Year
4 Junior Sportsman of the Year
5 Junior Sportswoman of the Year
6 Sportsman of the Year with a Disability
7 Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability
8 Junior Sportsman of the Year with a Disability
9 Junior Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability
10 Sport Team of the Year
11 Coach of the Year
12 Umpire/Referee of the Year
13 Federation and Community Impact of the Year
14 Sport Development Programme of the Year
15 Sports Journalist of the Year
16 Professional Shining Star Award
17 People's Choice Award- Following the announcement of the finalists, the Commission will open public voting for the People's Choice Award, allowing the public to vote for their favourite sports personality from the shortlisted finalists.
18 Chairperson's Award
19 Namibia Sport Hall of Fame
20 Lifetime Achievement Award
21 Sport Administrator of the Year
22 Safe Sport Award
23 Fair Play Award
24 Sustainable Sport Initiative Award
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