Once an Olympian, always an Olympian Congratulations to all Olympians |18 July 2020

Forty years ago, Seychellois athletes made some giant steps into the unkown by competing in the Olympic Gmes for the first time and that was in Moscow, Soviet Union.

In fact, talks about Seychelles debuting at the Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union (now Russia), started in 1979 after Seychellois athletes achieved some very good results at the inaugural Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) in Reunion that same year.

To be abel to take part in the Olympics, Seychelles needed to have an Olympic committee and it had to be affiliated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). At this point stemmed the idea of Seychelles having its Olympioc committee. Fired up about the prpspect of Seychelles’ participation in the international arena, John Pillay and his team immediately started the ball rolling by making enquiries about the procedure to join the IOC.

He jined with other sponst-minded and influential persions like Antonio Gopal, Simon lespor, Rene Youpa, Walter Fernandez and Rose-Marie Uranie requesting them to take part in the initial formation and the establishment of the Seuychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc) which changed its name to Seychelles Olympica and Commowealth games Association (Socga) in March 2007.

Snoc was created in 1979 in Victoria and recognised that same year by the IOC with Irish Michael Morris Killanin as its president.

Not only Seychelles made its debut at the Olympics in Moscow, seven other nations – Angola, Botswana, Cyprus, Jordan, Laos and Mozambique – also made their first appearance.

Altogether, 80 nations were represented in Moscow from July 19 to August 3, 1980.

Socga pays tribute to the first Olympians

“As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first participation of Seychellois athletes in the Olympic Games, Socga pays tribute to the Olympians who made their first appearance in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.

“Having done extremely well in the 1979 Indian Ocean Islands Games, Snoc with the support of the government, the following contingents of athletes and officials took flight to Moscow,” said Socga president Antonio Gopal.

He added: “Socga would also like to express its gratitude to the Soviet Union who besides providing excellent coaches, financed the fares and board and lodging in the Olympic Village for a total of 40 days which included training in preparation for the Games.”

“Congratulations to our colleague Olympians for doing us the honour of paving the way. Those still alive and keeping strong who are still helping out with sports activities we are very much thankful for them. To our officials we thank you for being there with us supporting us all the way and for those souls who have moved from this world into the spiritual world you are forever in our thoughts,” said Mr Gopal who was part of the team as an athlete (110m hurdles) and chef de mission.

Readers who wish to have more information about Snoc (now Socga) and Seychelles’ participation in major international Games including the Olympics are encouraged to read the commemorative book of the Seychelles National Olympic Committee’s Silver Jubilee 1979-2004.

The first Olympians were:

Arthur Agathine (triple jumper and reserve for 400m relay),

Vincent Confait (100m, 400m hurdles and 400m relay)

Bessie De Letourdie (100m and 200m)

Antonio Gopal (110m hurdles)

Marc Larose (100m, 4x100m and 400m relays)

Albert Marie (3000m steeple chase and marathon)

Michel Moncherry (boxer, welterweight)

Margaret Morel (800m and 1500m)

Casey Perreira (200m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays)

Micheal Pillay (boxer, welter-weight)

Regis Tranquille (400m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays)