Ons dra die deelnemersnommer op die spanhemp.

In Afrikaans, ons is the normal word for both we and us. Afrikaans does not have a separate everyday subject form like English does.

• Ons dra die deelnemersnommer. = We wear the participant number.
• Hulle sien ons. = They see us.

So ons works in both roles.

Dra most often means wear when you are talking about clothes or something on your body. It can also mean carry in other contexts.

For example:

• Ek dra 'n jas. = I am wearing a coat.
• Ek dra die tas. = I am carrying the bag.

In your sentence, because it refers to a number on a shirt, dra means wear.

Because there are two separate nouns:

• die deelnemersnommer
• die spanhemp

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:

• the shirt
• the shirts
• the number
• the numbers

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:

• deelnemer = participant
• nommer = number
• deelnemersnommer = participant number / race number

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:

• learn the compound as a single vocabulary item
• do not try to add an apostrophe

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:

• op for something physically on a surface
• aan for wearing clothes on your body

Compare:

• Ons het spanhemde aan. = We are wearing team shirts.
• Die nommer is op die spanhemp. = The number is on the team shirt.

So in your sentence, op focuses on where the number appears.

Spanhemp is another compound noun:

• span = team
• hemp = shirt

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:

• participant number
• participant's number

Afrikaans naturally says:

• deelnemersnommer

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:

• Ons = subject
• dra = verb
• die deelnemersnommer = object
• op die spanhemp = prepositional phrase

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.

Grammatically, deelnemersnommer is singular, so it means the participant number or the race number.

If you wanted the plural, you would normally say:

• die deelnemersnommers = the participant numbers

So in your sentence, the noun is singular.

You would use 'n:

• Ons dra 'n deelnemersnommer op die spanhemp.

So:

• die = the
• 'n = a / an

That is a useful contrast to remember in Afrikaans.