MTC on Thursday announced a sponsorship of N$300 000 for Agnes Samaria to help her prepare for the Beijing Olympic Games.

MTC’s general manager corporate affairs, Albertus Auchumub said that they had supported Samaria financially for the past five years to help her participate internationally and that they were proud to be associated with her.

“MTC has supported Agnes since 2003 and part of our agreement is that she gets a lump sum to participate in international events. In the past she also received added incentives if she achieved certain results,” he said.

“This is an important year. We wont have many athletes at the Olympic Games, but we hope that they will represent us well and it is only proper that we assist one or two athletes,” he added.

“Agnes has done us proud thus far and her record speaks for itself. We hope she will be ready to triumph when Beijing comes,” he said.

Preparations on track

Agnes Samaria said her preparations were on track and that she was determined to make an impact at the Beijing Olympic Games.

“I participated at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens where I came ninth and just missed out on the final. It was a real eye opener for me and I was crying and feeling bad. I want to go to the Olympic Games and be on the podium. I can make an impact,” she said.

Samaria said the two bronze medals that she won at the African Championships strengthened her belief that she could be successful.

“The two bronze medals showed me that I can achieve my goals. I will be fully rested by the end of July to have enough courage and determination to win a medal,” she said.

In accordance with the Namibia Olympic Committee’s strict qualifying rules, Samaria still needs to qualify for the Olympics with an A qualification time, but she said she was certain she would do so.

“I didn’t know about it earlier because it was not communicated to me, but it is not a problem. Most of the races take place in June and July and if I get enough training, anything can be possible. I believe I will go to the Olympic Games and I believe I will make a difference,” she said.