Zambia Gears Up for Region 5 Youth Games in Namibia

With less than two weeks to go, anticipation is rising as Zambia readies itself for the 2025 AUSC Region 5 Youth Games, scheduled to take place from 4th to 13th July in Windhoek, Namibia.

This prestigious biennial event will bring together over 2,500 athletes and officials from ten Southern African countries, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, to compete across 12 sports disciplines. These include athletics, basketball, boxing, e-sport, football, judo, karate, netball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball.

Zambia, which proudly hosted the 5th edition of the Games in 2012, is sending a strong contingent of 164 delegates to this year’s competition. The delegation includes athletes, coaches, medical staff, and officials who will represent the country in multiple disciplines, including athletics, basketball, boxing, football, netball, swimming, judo, volleyball, e-sport, and the Special Olympics.

The Region 5 Youth Games, owned and coordinated by the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5, were established as part of a Five-Year Development Plan adopted in 1997. They are designed to nurture young talent, promote regional integration, and foster unity, friendship, and Olympism among youth.

Namibia is stepping in to host the 2025 edition following the withdrawal of Mozambique. Despite the short notice, the Land of the Brave is prepared to deliver a world-class event. Hosting duties for the Games rotate alphabetically among member states and are governed by a Protocol Agreement signed at least 36 months in advance. Namibia’s readiness highlights the region’s spirit of solidarity and cooperation.

As Windhoek prepares to welcome the region’s finest young athletes, we wait to see if Zambia will make its mark once again.

Let the Games begin!