Namibia was officially welcomed to the Olympic Games when their flag raising ceremony took place on Monday evening.
Namibian Chef de Mission Ndeulipula Hamutumwa and Namibia’s High Commissioner to Great Britain George Liswaniso led the small Namibian team into the international plaza in front of the Athletes Village where they were welcomed by a representative of the International Olympic Committee.
Hamutumwa handed him a gift from Namibia, and then the Namibian flag was raised to the accompaniment of the Namibian national anthem.
It was a proud moment, taking place in glorious sunshine, as the national flag joined the IOC flag and that of various other countries that have already had their ceremonies.
The Namibian team included Hamutumwa, Joan Smit, Anna Wimmert, Dr Ben Viljoen, Luis Forcelledo and wrestler Sem Shilimela, as well as Dan Craven’s coach Marian Clignet who arrived at the village on Monday.
Craven, meanwhile, became the second Namibian athlete to join the team when he arrived on Monday evening. Craven has been training in Europe with his professional cycling team Sigma Sport and joined the team after completing a race in France over the weekend.