THE Namibia Local Authority Sports and Recreation Association (NALASRA) has named Keetmanshoop to host the 2010 inter-municipal games.

NALASRA President, Jeffrey //Naobeb, announced the decision at a press conference and said the hosting town's municipal officials were highly enthusiastic about the selection.

//Naobeb said any municipality winning a bid to host the games should make

N$100 000 available, but added that NALASRA had decided to half this amount for the Keetmanshoop Municipality.

Apart from the availability of money, hosting municipalities should also offer sporting and accommodation facilities meeting standards set by NALASRA, //Naobeb added.

Welcoming the announcement, the Chairman of the Keetmanshoop Municipality Local Organising Committee (LOC), Josef Rooi, said the southern town was renowned for hosting prestigious sporting events such as The Namibian Newspaper Cup, the national 2009 Independence celebrations' soccer game, and an international friendly game between Namibia's Brave Gladiators and Nigeria.

"By hosting this year's NALASRA games, we're not trying to do something new or beyond our capability," said Rooi.

He said the games would be played under the theme 'Play Safe' and will be dedicated towards the fight against HIV-AIDS.

The games will take place towards the end of May.