XXVIII Olympic Games in Athens, Greece-Past Seychellois Olympians wish 2004 colleagues well |13 August 2004

In a heartfelt message on behalf of all past local Olympians the President of the Seychelles Olympians Association (SOA), Mr Jean-Paul Adam, says that even if Seychelles has never finished on the the podium since the country's first participation in Moscow in 1980, "the spirit of Olympism runs very strongly through Seychellois sport."

"The Seychelles Olympians Association is proud of the achievements of Seychellois sportsmen and women over the years which have always stood out in comparison to the country's small size," the message says. 

It adds: "We are proud that once again in 2004, Seychellois athletes will walk shoulder to shoulder with the giants of their sport and prove their worth in the Olympic arena.
 
"We will be following your progress in the spirit of solidarity and unity of the Olympics which brings people together across great distances."
This year marks Seychelles' sixth particiaption in the Olympic Games as an independent nation.

The SOA was formed in November last year and regroups Seychellois athletes who have had the honour of representing their country at the Olympics. It aims at promoting the values of the Olympic Movement including solidarity and unity through sport.

The SOA is being represented in Athens through its Honorary President, Mr Antonio Gopal, who also heads the Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc) and
represented Seychelles in athletics in Moscow in 1980 and by Mr Ivan Roberts, treasurer of the Association who participated in swimming in Barcelona in 1992.

Meanwhile in Greece, the seven-year marathon to prepare Athens for the greatest sporting show on earth ends today with the opening of the games.

Tens of thousands of athletes, officials and media have descended on Athens for the 17-day sporting extravaganza, which opens under the shadow of the ancient Acropolis and will close on August 29.

The contrast from the first modern Olympics held 108 years ago in Greece, the original birthplace of the ancient festival, could not be starker.

The 1896 Games saw around 250 athletes representing 11 nations taking part at a total cost estimated at US$500,000 in today's prices.

But on Friday a mammoth 10,000 athletes representing 202 countries will march together to begin just over a fortnight of competition that is costing a record-breaking US$7.2 billion to stage.

A large chunk of that budget – US$1.5 billion – is to be spent on a security operation that will make the 2004 Olympics the most tightly guarded sporting event in history.

A total of 100,000 security personnel, or 10 for every athlete, will be on duty at the games, a massive show of strength aimed at deterring terrorists.

In addition to Olympic athletes, officials and spectators, Greece will welcome some 70 heads of state and royalty during the Games, including Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair and former US president George Bush, who arrived in northern Greece on Tuesday.

R.D.