Namibia has been named Country of the Year at the 8th edition of the Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA), held in Luanda, Angola.
The ceremony brought together ten member countries, with Namibia receiving four nominations.
Although the country won only one award, it received the evening's top honour, placing Namibia at the centre of regional sports recognition.
The award comes as Namibia continues to strengthen its sports structures and long-term development programmes, with a focus on international competitiveness and preparation for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
The Chief Administrator of the Namibian Sports Commission, Freddy Mwiya, says the recognition reflects progress made within the country's sports sector since the awards were established.
"It has been my dream to win this award for a number of years. From the first time we attended in 2016, we realised it was not easy. We started looking at what is expected from a country to win this award. There must be political will, and Namibia has shown that political will. There must also be sports development on the ground, which Namibia has demonstrated through various programmes. The aspect of mass participation is also important. Namibia is hosting many boot camps and marathons, which contribute to physical well-being and help build sport in the country."
He added that Namibia's growing ability to host regional events, combined with investment in grassroots development across different sporting codes, is positioning the country for greater influence on the continent.
"One of the key aspects is the implementation of the podium performance programme, which we started last year. The government's commitment to this programme is already producing results, and that contributed to the Country of the Year recognition. We also implemented a leadership programme for women in sport, which plays an important role. As a member of TAFISA, we are also promoting sport-for-all programmes to encourage healthy living and ensure access to sport for people living with disabilities."
With competition from countries such as South Africa and Botswana, Namibia's recognition as Country of the Year reflects the country's commitment to sports development.