Belgium ambassador sets sights on sport diplomacy

Namibia’s ambassador to Belgium says he is leveraging European sport networks to secure coaching, technology and infrastructure partnerships for Namibian athletes and federations.

“I’ve been working to identify sources of technical cooperation, coaching support, sport science expertise, facility management knowledge, equipment partnerships, exchange programmes, and funding ways,” Alfredo Hengari says.

The former presidential press secretary says he has been in Brussels for the past five months.

“In that time, my priority has been to understand the Belgian, Benelux, and European institutional landscape, thoroughly building the relationships, identifying the entry points, and determining with precision how Namibia’s national priorities can be advanced through the specific diplomatic tools available to the mission,” he says.

Hengari says sport is firmly among president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s priorities.

“It is about young people, discipline and excellence.”

The government is investing in youth development through sport, and is seeking partners in the Benelux area to this end, he says.