05 Jan 2026

15 December, Luanda, Angola

Namibia proudly participated in the 2nd Edition of the African Olympic Forum for Environmental Preservation and the Fight Against Climate Change, held in parallel with the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola. The forum, organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), focused on the theme “African Sports Facing Climate Challenges: Acting Together for a Sustainable Future.”

The forum brought together leaders from the 54 African National Olympic Committees (NOCs), policymakers, environmental experts, businesses, and athletes to collectively explore how sports can become a powerful vehicle for sustainability and climate action across the continent. Its overarching aim was to make African sports a lever for sustainable development while fostering cooperation among nations, institutions, and partners.

Namibia’s Delegation
Representing Namibia was NNOC Executive Board member Maike Betts, alongside the Namibian 3x3 basketball athlete, Twapewa Iyaloo Annushka Nakanyala, who actively engaged in discussions and workshops on ecological initiatives in sports. Their participation emphasized Namibia’s commitment to promoting environmental responsibility within its sporting community.

Forum Objectives and Key Discussions
The forum centered on five main objectives:

1. Creating a Pan-African Dialogue Platform—NOCs, clubs, policymakers, and international institutions exchanged insights on climate issues impacting African sports.

2. Promoting Sustainable Sports—Highlighting eco-friendly practices such as green infrastructure, sustainable mobility, carbon footprint reduction, and waste management in sporting events.

3. Raising Awareness and Mobilizing Youth—Using sports as a platform to educate young athletes and the wider public about climate change.

4. Promoting Partnerships—Encouraging collaboration between African governments, NGOs, multinational companies, and sports institutions to implement climate-focused initiatives.

5. Positioning Africa as a Key Player—Showcasing the continent’s natural resources and local initiatives as part of global climate action.

Highlights from the Sessions

• Session 1: Athlete Engagement and Sustainability Programs
  Fabrizio D’Angelo, IOC Sustainability Manager, presented strategies for involving NOCs, athletes, and clubs in sustainability programs, including the Olympic Forest Network, Sports For Nature, and potential athlete ambassador initiatives.

• Session 2: Education and Awareness
  ANOCA Vice-President Filomena Fortes led discussions on engaging youth in ecological actions through sport. Panelists emphasized African-led solutions, the use of technology for climate education, and the importance of partnerships between ministries, schools, and NOCs to foster environmental responsibility among young athletes.  Panelists: Olivier Niamkey (IOC Olympic Solidarity Associate Director) & Tegla Loroupe (KEN)

• Session 3: Social Responsibility
  Moderated by Fabrizio D’Angelo, speakers including Paul Tergat (KEN) and Botsang Tshenyego (NOC Botswana) highlighted how NOCs can lead, educate, and advocate for sustainable sports initiatives while maintaining strong relationships with governments and national sports councils.

• Session 4: Waste Management
  This session focused on best practices in waste reduction and ecological responsibility in sports events, reinforcing Namibia’s commitment to similar local initiatives, including clean-up campaigns and tree-planting projects.

Looking Ahead
Namibia’s participation underscored its dedication to leveraging sports as a tool for environmental education and action. Initiatives discussed during the forum, such as youth engagement, sustainable sports infrastructure, and climate advocacy by athletes, are expected to inspire concrete programs within Namibia’s sports ecosystem.

The 2nd African Olympic Forum marks a significant step in building a collective African approach to sustainability, ensuring that the continent not only participates in the global fight against climate change but also leads with innovative, homegrown solutions.