Because there are two separate nouns:
Afrikaans uses die as the definite article for the, and it does not change for gender or number. So the same word is used for:
That makes Afrikaans simpler than languages that change the article.
Yes. Afrikaans, like Dutch and German, very often writes compound nouns as one word.
So:
This is completely normal in Afrikaans. English often writes these as two words, but Afrikaans usually joins them.
That s is a linking sound that often appears in Afrikaans compounds. It does not automatically mean possession in the English sense.
So deelnemersnommer is not built like English participant's number with an apostrophe. It is just the standard compound form.
You will see this kind of thing in many words. The main point for a learner is:
Here op means on in the sense of on the surface of the team shirt.
That makes sense if the number is attached, printed, pinned, or displayed on the shirt.
Afrikaans often uses:
Compare:
So in your sentence, op focuses on where the number appears.
Spanhemp is another compound noun:
So spanhemp means team shirt or sometimes team jersey, depending on context.
Like deelnemersnommer, it is written as one word because it is a compound noun.
Afrikaans usually prefers compounds instead of the English apostrophe pattern.
So English might say:
Afrikaans naturally says:
This is a very common difference between English and Afrikaans. If an English speaker tries to translate word-for-word, they may expect a possessive structure, but Afrikaans often just builds one compound noun instead.
No, this sentence has very straightforward main-clause word order:
So it follows the normal pattern:
Subject + Verb + Object + Place/Position phrase
That is one reason this sentence feels quite easy for English speakers.
You could, but it sounds less neutral. The usual order is:
Ons dra die deelnemersnommer op die spanhemp.
Putting op die spanhemp earlier gives extra emphasis to that part, and it may sound more marked or less natural unless the context specifically calls for that emphasis.
So for ordinary usage, the version you were given is the best one to learn first.