11th Indian Ocean Island Games 2023 – Madagascar ‘We trust in Madagascar to organise the games next year’ |26 January 2022
From left to right: Messrs Vidot, Gopal, Alcindor and Dogley (Photo: Thomas Meriton)
Following the recent meeting of the International Games Council of the Indian Ocean Islands Games scheduled to take place next year in Madagascar, all participating nations are now relying on the expertise of the host country which hosted two previous Games.
Antonio Gopal, who has been re-elected president of the International Games Council (Conseil International des Jeux in French), made the declaration yesterday morning at the Olympic House, Roche Caïman, during a press conference to brief members of the press on the recent developments in relation to the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG).
Also present at yesterday’s press conference were the secretary general of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) Alain Alcindor, Socga’s executive committee member Norbert Dogley and advisor within the Youth and Sports department Kevin Vidot. They were all part of the delegation who attended the International Games Council meeting in Madagascar last week.
Mr Gopal said despite the fact that they did not get the chance to visit all the infrastructure, from experience they know that Madagascar has good sports venues while some need a facelift.
He said Madagascar does not really need any big advice and all members trust the country as it was the case for previous Games.
For the 11th Games, a record of 26 sports disciplines have been proposed and Mr Gopal noted that the increase in the number is a good thing for the development of sports in our region.
He also added that within one month to five weeks, Madagascar should send to the various Olympic committees the general and technical regulations of the 11th Games.
Also present in Madagascar were representatives of the Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan Indien (CJSOI) and according to Mr Vidot, it is very important to boost the relationship between the two organisations as it is the perfect way to improve the preparation and transition of athletes from CJSOI to IOIG level.
The 26 proposed sports disciplines for the 11th IOIG are athletics (track and field – handi-sport), badminton, basketball (3x3 and 5x5), boxing, cycling, equestrian, football, beach soccer, weightlifting, handball, judo, karate, kickboxing, wrestling, swimming, swimming (handi-sport), petanque, rugby (7x7 and 15x15), taekwondo, archery, tennis, table tennis, yachting, volleyball, beach volleyball and surfing.
It is to note that the Maldives were the initial hosts of the 11th Games, but they withdrew from hosting in January 2021 and were replaced by Madagascar.
Roland Duval