The Bank Windhoek, Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (NASFED) third Long Course Gala returns this weekend. From Friday, 24 January, to Saturday, 25 January 2025, the swimming event will be hosted simultaneously in three towns: at Olympia Swimming Pool in Windhoek, The Water Cube Swimming Pool in Swakopmund, and Sand Sharks Swimming Pool in Oranjemund. Over 200 athletes will compete in 41 swimming events this weekend.
The athletes will aim to set new personal best times to qualify for the Namibian National Long Course Championships, which will be held at the end of February 2025. Following the National Championships, athletes will gear up for tours to South Africa in March and April in the Levels 2 and 3 Swimming competitions, including the South Africa Junior Swimming Championships and South African Senior Swimming Championships.
To compete internationally, two selected teams will represent Namibia in Egypt at the Africa Aquatics Junior Swimming and Open Water Championships at the end of April 2025.
Bank Windhoek's of Head Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sponsorships, Bronwyn Moody, said Bank Windhoek is excited to partner with NASFED for another year, witnessing and supporting outstanding swimming events with the potential to showcase Namibian skills and athletes internationally. “Empowering our local communities through sport is essential. We look forward to seeing the athletes excel and showcase their brilliant swimming skills locally and to an international audience. We look forward to an active and productive year where we cheer on and support Namibian athletes," she said.
NASFED Public Relations Officer Carol-Ann Esterhuizen said that while this is the start of a new year, the Federation is well into the Summer Aquatic season, which started in October last year. “We completed two Long Course Swimming Galas and Open Water Swimming events last year. We also successfully hosted the Africa Aquatics Zone IV Swimming and Open Water Championships in December 2024. Our athletes are preparing for the Bank Windhoek NASFED National Long Course Swimming Competition in February and the upcoming tours thereafter," she said.
She added that Bank Windhoek's support enables the Federation to host swimming competitions and create the ideal conditions for athletes to prepare for upcoming competitions.
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