WINDHOEK, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Namibia will be the first African country to host the World University Rugby Sevens Championships, which kicks off on July 12 in the coastal town of Swakopmund.

The championships will be hosted by the Tertiary Institutes Sports Association of Namibia (TISAN) on behalf of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), an association which develops and promotes sport at all tertiary institutions in Namibia.

TISAN marketing officer Faith Mudimba on Wednesday told Xinhua that Namibia is ready to host the event as all the ground work for the tournament has been laid.

"It has been a big task organizing a tournament of this magnitude, but I can safely say that the event is going to be a success and [that] Namibia is ready," she added.

According to Mudimba, 16 countries that will take part in the tournament have landed in Namibia except for Zimbabwe and Zambia who are expected on Thursday.

Mudimba said that teams from Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Belgium, China, Canada, Columbia, France, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe will take part in the games.

Namibia will host over 300 athletes and showcase their rugby sevens capabilities across 16 male and 12 female teams.