Ninth All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria – from July 11 to 23-Team Seychelles’ first contingent to reach final destination today |09 July 2007
Chef de mission James Barreau also left yesterday morning
The athletes were seen off at the Seychelles International Airport, Pointe Larue, by Denis Rose, principal secretary for Youth, Sports and Culture in the Ministry of Community Development, Youth, Sports and Culture as well as National Sports Council (NSC) managing director Eric Arnephie who is the head of the delegation and is to leave tomorrow.
Representatives of the Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc) and other NSC officials were also at the airport to see off the sportsmen and women.
New on Team Seychelles for Algeria’s capital city – Algiers – is cyclist Jim Melanie who has replaced the injured Bertrand Lesperance. The latter, who has been training at an elite centre in South Africa, is still suffering as a result of a fall in one of his training sessions.
Meanwhile, local boxers are already in Algiers together with Cuban coach Pedro Pacheco and his Seychellois assistant Jerry Legras. Dave César (51kg), MacFarlène Estrale (57kg), Jean-Paul Mellie (60kg), Kitson Julie (64kg), Alvin Gabriel (69kg) and Patrick Camille (+91kg) followed an intensive training camp in Cuba before flying straight to Algiers.
It is to note than an unprecedented high of 61 Seychellois sportsmen and women will march into the Olympic Stadium « 5 juillet » in Algiers, on Wednesday July 11 during the Games’ opening ceremony.
Male shuttler Georgie Cupidon, who is the country’s reigning Sportsman of the Year, will lead Team Seychelles, carrying the country’s flag.
Seychelles will compete in nine sporting disciplines – athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, sailing, swimming, table tennis, volleyball and weightlifting – during the 13-day Games.
This is the second time the city of Algiers hosts the Games. The first time was in 1978 when Seychelles made its debut at these multi-sports events.
G. G.