NAMIBIAN PM URGES OFFICIALS TO AVOID AGE CHEATING
	Windhoek, June 27 - The Namibian Prime Minister Mr. Nahas Angula has urged the officials of the participating teams to avoid use of overage athletes at the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone Six under 20 games. Officially opening the SCSA Zone Six under 20 Games at Sam Nujoma stadium in Windhoek on Monday, Mr Angula said he let the under 20 youth compete and only to be guided by the principle of fair play, urging officials and organisers not to allow any form of cheating. He pointed out that games are aimed at giving youth from the Zone Six region together to compete, interact, form lasting friendships and practically experience person to person integration. “Our youth must learn that they are one people, who belong to one region and one continent,” he added. Furthermore, he pointed out that the objective of the games as Southern African Development Community (SADC) region for sport is to bring about regional integration, unity, peace, stability and development. The Prime Minister said Namibia like all other SADC Member States, recognises the value of sport in both national and regional development. “Gone must be the days, when sport was only taken and viewed as the pre-occupation of a selected few. Sport is now an industry. It is a large booming industry which contributes tremendously, to the Gross Domestic Products,” he remarked. Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports in Namibia Mr.John Mutorwa when officially opening the Ordinary Council of Ministers meeting held at the Safari Hotel on the same day, said that the rules and regulations of the Games were applied and adhered to both in letter and spirit and in keeping with the spirit of fair play. He assured the Ministers that the Zonal Organising Committee has inspected the facilities, venues and the Games Village and is satisfied and has pronounced them fit to host the Games. Meanwhile, in an interview, the Assistant Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation Mr. Hlonepho Nts’khe said lack of communication from countries representatives at organisational level down to individual sports which participate in the tournament, has resulted in shortage of information on what is required of them. Mr. Nts’ekhe pledged that Lesotho delegation is working around time to make sure that all the necessary documents needed for the athletes to register will be completed soon to avoid being expelled from the games. At close of accreditation on Saturday, near 900 athletes and 200 officials were accredited. The Games will end on July 05 and there are 12 countries participating.
	Source: LENA