NAMIBIA may consider hosting the continental multi-sporting event, The All Africa Games (AAG) in 2011, after scheduled host Zambia pulled out on Christmas Eve.

Zambia withdrew from hosting the AAG late last year, citing a need to save money to enhance food security in the wake of the current global economic crisis.
This left the AAG without a host country and The Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (SCSA) still assessing what action to take against Zambia, before announcing its next move in the coming weeks.
Namibia Permanent Secretary of Sports, Peingondjabi Shipoh this week said that Government would consider and “seek ways that may motivate the bid to host.”
“Hosting the event is an option the government can be willing to consider,” he said.
“It’s with sadness that Zambia withdrew but if we check out resources right, we might not shy away from hosting it.”
Zambia’s withdrawal from the event shook the continent, as 8000 athletes from the projected 52 countries had already been assured venues where the 26 sports would be held between July 15 and 27, 2011. In 1988, Zambia also back-peddled from hosting the African Football Nations Cup at the last minute, citing a lack of funds, and the tournament had to be moved to Morocco.
Namibia, which failed to win the bid to host the 2010 and 2012 African Nations Cup three years ago, has been tipped in the corridors of sporting politics to announce its interest in this event, sources say. Shipoh chaired the 2012 Nations Cup bid Committee.
Zambia won the AAG bid in April 2005 after the withdrawal of other bidders including Ghana, but had not done much in terms of infrastructural development since then. Ghana still stands an outside chance of being given the rights, ahead of infrastructure dilapidated Mali.
The Games have been held in Southern Africa before - Harare in 1995 and in Johannesburg in 1999 - but South Africa’s 2010 agenda might not give them much time to re-prepare for 2011, while Zimbabwe is crippled by an ailing economy.
The stadium hosting the opening ceremony should be finished by December this year.
Zambia had intended to build three stadiums, all with a capacity greater than 50,000, as well as an extra swimming pool for the Games.
As in most incidences with the AAG, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) builds some facilities if a host government offers land, and more than half a dozen International Federations offer expertise and finance the building for their own specific infrastructure, around the core centre.
Deputy Minister of Sports and Culture, Pohamba Shifeta, also confirmed the possibility of hosting the event. “It’s a challenge we may be willing to take,” he said.
A reality check shows that Namibia has a favorable economy, developing infrastructure characterised by the current rehabilitation of Independence Stadium, the complexion of SNS astro turf, numerous hostel facilities around the capital that only need refurbishment, and NFA’s shelved plans of revamping the KASU stadium in Katutura.
The International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) partners with the Olympic body and the private sector of an interested host to ease the financial burden. Unlike Zambia, Namibia has better infrastructure to host international events, although its population becomes a suspect.
Ahead of the 1988 AFCON, Zambia took a decision to raze its best stadium, the Dag Hammarskjold, to the ground and rebuild it. After failing to host the soccer-showpiece, the stadium was never rebuilt.
Zambia’s 2011 financial dossier shows a US$10 million grant expected from the IOC, over US$5m from corporate partners, and a further US$20m in fund raising, apart from the US$91m promised from that country’s government.