Javelin thrower Cyril Charles to compete at Rio 2016 Paralympic Games |30 August 2016

Javelin thrower Cyril Charles is the only para-athlete representing Seychelles at the forthcoming Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Out of three ‘wild card’ applications submitted earlier, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had given the green light to that of Cyril who, it is to be recalled, had also taken part in the 2015 Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) and the All-Africa Games.

In a communique, the Paralympic Association of Seychelles (Pas) writes that “our participation in Rio Paralympics represents the ‘icing on the cake’, crowning a relatively short journey since November 2013 when Pas secured its membership to the IPC”.

“Other milestones had been our participation in the IPC’s Athletics Grand Prix in Tunis in April 2014, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in August 2014, the Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion in August 2015 and the All-Africa Games in September 2015 in Congo Brazzaville,” adds the communiqué.

Pas would like to extend its gratitude to all its sponsors and partners, especially Barclays Bank for its tangible support towards the delegation’s travel to Rio de Janeiro.

“Over the past few years, the hallmark of our community agenda has enabled us to reach out to those groups and individuals who are in need of special assistance. Barclays is happy to be associated with the local Paralympic movement in its momentous journey to Rio 2016. We remain steadfast in our view that if our communities prosper, so will we as a bank in Seychelles,” said Johan Van Schalkwyk, managing director – Barclays Bank.

Charles, whose left leg has been amputated, has twice won medals for Seychelles at the Indian Ocean Island Games. In Mauritius in 2003, he won the 100m freestyle gold medal and grabbed the silver in Seychelles in 2011.

Other persons forming part of the Seychelles delegation to Rio include Vincent Cedras (coach) and Dr Lucia Banane (classifier/doctor).

They leave Seychelles on September 3 for the 2016 Paralympic Games which will be held in Rio from September 7-18, 2016.