XX Commonwealth Games – July 23 to August 3, 2014 |17 July 2014

Seychelles sends biggest team to Glasgow

Seychelles will be sending its biggest ever delegation to the Commonwealth Games and taking part in a record nine sports.

The official delegation that will be heading off to the XX Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, was revealed during yesterday afternoon’s official sending off ceremony at the International Conference Centre (ICCS).

The ceremony was attended by Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton, Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) president Antonio Gopal, Socga vice-president Hughes Adam, as well as other invitees, sponsors, coaches and athletes.

Minister Meriton, who will also be travelling with the athletes to Glasgow, said that the opening of the Games next week will mark the presence of Seychelles among the Commonwealth family, which will consist of over 6,500 athletes competing in 19 disciplines.

“We will be taking part in nine of these 19 disciplines, which is a record for our country and with a delegation of over 70 athletes and officials, it will be the biggest delegation that has ever represented Seychelles at the Commonwealth Games,” said Minister Meriton.

He added: “By sending our biggest delegation ever, including members of the newly formed Paralympic Association, to the Games is once again proof of how committed we are as a nation to invest in the development and health of our youth and use sports as a vehicle for positive change, inspiration and unity.”

“We realise and appreciate the potential of sports in uniting our country, in renewing national pride and providing our youth with the opportunities to express themselves. We should continue to use sports to inspire and motivate people in adopting healthier lifestyles. To work hard, be disciplined and respect others. Through the social renaissance initiative, we are spreading this message. Through our Sports Ambassadors Programme, we intend to make a difference,” he said.

The minister also spoke of the fact that eight of the nine disciplines Seychelles will compete in at the Commonwealth Games will be part of the 2015 Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) which will be hosted by Reunion island.

“This competition will therefore also be seen as a preparation for the IOIG, as we seek to improve our record setting second place on the medals table achieved in the 2011 Games here in Seychelles.”

He also thanked the efforts of various associations, federations and sponsors in continuing the development of sports in Seychelles.
 
“I applaud the ever improving relationship between the government, the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association and the private sector,

resulting in the provision of more opportunities for our youth to adopt sports not only for competition but as a way of life and healthy living,” said Minister Meriton.

He concluded with a message of inspiration to the athletes: “At the Commonwealth Games we have won silver and bronze medals but gold remains elusive. I recall that when the baton carrying Her Majesty the Queen’s message toured Seychelles earlier this year, the British high commissioner (Lindsay Skoll) took it underwater. This was a first for the baton. Let this feat inspire us to our first Commonwealth Games gold medal.”

In his speech, Mr Gopal said he expects the athletes to perform well at these games as they have had a lot of preparation.

“We have had more intense preparations than ever before and have been helped in various ways. What we ask of you in return is to keep training and preparing yourselves as your tasks will only be complete after you finish competing,” he said.

He also thanked the sponsors who have helped in the athletes’ preparation as well as the delegation itself.

During the ceremony, athletes Clementina Agricole, Andrique Allisop, Joanne Loutoy, Dean William, Steve Malcouzane and Felicity Passon paraded in the team’s different uniform for the Games.

Minister Meriton also presented the Seychelles flag to the team’s flagbearer, weightlifter Agricole, who is also the country’s reigning Sportswoman of the Year.

The nine disciplines that Seychellois athletes will take part in are athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, judo, squash, swimming, table tennis and weightlifting. The athletes will be hosted at the Athlete’s Village, a purpose-built, low-carbon development in Glasgow’s East End. The village will offer an exclusive retail area, recreation area, dining hall, medical facility and other amenities for use by the athletes and officials.

Seychelles has taken part in the Commonwealth Games since 1990 and has never won the gold medal. The country’s first medal came in boxing, when Rival Payet won bronze in 71kg category in Canada after missing his semifinal bout.

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998, boxers Gerry Legras (63.5kg) and Roland Raforme (91kg) won a silver medal each.

Athlete Celine Laporte won a bronze medal in the long jump and Janet Georges also won a bronze in weightlifting in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia.

Weightlifter Georges climbed a step higher in Delhi, India in 2010, by winning a silver medal.

The first Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930, and were known as the ‘British Empire Games’. Since then the games have been organised every four years except for 1942 and 1946 on account of the World War II. Often referred to as the ‘friendly games’, it is now considered the second biggest sporting carnival after the Olympic Games, and continue to attract top athletes. The legendary Usain Bolt will be competing for team Jamaica at this year’s Games.

The XX Commonwealth Games will start on July 23 and end on August 3, in Glasgow, Scotland.

The following is the complete Seychelles delegation that will be heading to the Games on July 20, with the exception of Hughes Adam and Mary Banane who leave today.

Official delegation: Minister Vincent Meriton (Minister for Sports), Antonio Gopal (Socga president), Alain Alcindor (Socga secretary general), Denis Rose (principal secretary for Sports), Hughes Adam (chef de mission), Mary Banane (general team manager), Dr Kenneth Sherwin (chief sports doctor), Dr Julie Shamlaye (sports doctor), Radley O’Sullivan (physiotherapist) and Luke Smith (physiotherapist).

Athletics: Neddy Marie, Dean William, Leeroy Henriette, Lissa Labiche, Joanne Loutoy, Andy Labrosse and Jean-Paul Juliette (athletes), Maurice Camille, Carlos Sanchez and Terry Volcère (coaches), Lucia Banane (official).

Badminton: Steve Malcouzane, Kervin Ghislain, Georgie Cupidon, Juliette Ah-Wan and Alisen Camille (athletes), Calix Francourt (coach), Tukebana Bau (official).

Boxing: Keddy Agnes and Andrique Allisop (athletes), Rival Payet (coach), Herve Anthony (official).

Cycling: Dominic Arrisol, Edward Pothin and Chris Germain (athletes), Lucas Georges (coach), Lita Denis (official).

Judo: Leslie Philoe, Naddy Jeanne, Dominic Dugasse and Brigitte Rose (athletes), Calix Cesar (coach).

Squash: Eva Alphonse and Ridvan Prosper (athletes), Rene Durup (coach), Nigel Pillay (official).

Swimming: Adam Viktora, Dean Hoffman and Felicity Passon (athletes), Paul Fanchette (coach), David Vidot (official).

Table Tennis: Godfrey Sultan, Nicholas Esther, Dario Laurence, Anniessa Benstrong and Laura Sinon (athletes), David Low-Thion and Peter Youpa (coaches)

Weightlifting: Terrence Dixie, Rick Confiance, Ruby Malvina, Janet Georges and Clementina Agricole (athletes), William Dixie and Reginald Estro (coaches),

 Barbara Hoareau (official).

Minister meriton addressing the athetes and guest

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