Minister Marie-Celine Zialor on working mission in Mauritius |10 December 2021

Youth, Sports and Family Minister Marie-Celine Zialor is heading a four-member delegation on a four-day working mission to Mauritius in her capacity as the president of the Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan Indien.

The visit comes a year ahead of the 12th Jeux de la Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan Indien (CJSOI) scheduled for December 2022 in Mauritius.

Minister Zialor was welcomed on her arrival at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport on Wednesday December 8 by her Mauritian counterpart, Stephan Toussaint the Minister for Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation.

During her visit, Minister Zialor will hold several meetings mainly to get an insight on the preparations underway for the games which were expected to be held this year but were postponed to next year due to the pandemic. She will also visit different sporting facilities which will be used for the games. She will also attend activities to commemorate the Journée de la jeunesse de l'Océan Indien which this year falls on Saturday December 11.

Welcoming Minister Zialor at the airport Minister Toussaint said it is important for the two of them to meet formally as their two ministries have a lot to collaborate on.

He added that this visit is also to reaffirm the close relationship and fraternity that exist between the two island nations.

Minister Zialor on her part said her priority is to upgrade the standard of the games.

“I want to look at the future of the CJSOI to upgrade not only the standards of the sporting events but to also look at activities for the youth component and to have more collaboration between the youth of the Indian Ocean,” Minister Zialor said.

Both ministers have agreed to adopt new ways and strategies to strengthen and further advance the games.

They also shared each other’s country experience with the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, health measures in place as well as what has been done to re-launch and keep the economy going.

Both islands are touristic destinations though Mauritius has a strong textile industry which according to Minister Toussaint has kept the economy going during the past two years.

Press release from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family