Malbrook returns as athletes’ commission head |21 March 2022

Simone Malbrook is back as chairperson of the athletes’ commission of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association.

After a tie with Rodney Govinden with six votes apiece in the first round of voting, Malbrook won more votes in the second round to assume the role of chairperson of the athletes’ commission of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga), a position she held from 2012 to 2017.

Election for office bearers on the athletes’ commission took place on Saturday at the Olympic House, Roche Caïman.

The vice-chairperson is Ana Barra who served as chairperson for the last five years (2017 to 2022).

Since there were no candidates for the post of secretary, Fatime Kanté will act as secretary until such time someone is elected to take up the position.

The four ordinary members are Rodney Govinden, Felicity Passon, Janet Georges and Luthard Amblavany.

As athletes’ commission chairperson, Mrs Malbrook becomes an ordinary member of the Socga executive committee and takes part in Socga’s committee meetings where she represents the views, rights and interests of athletes.

The new Socga executive committee will be elected this coming weekend during the annual general meeting.

Article 40 of the Socga Act makes provision for the establishment of the athletes’ commission for purposes of representing the views of the athletes and making their voices heard within Socga.

The objectives of the commission are:

i. to consider issues related to athletes and to provide advice to Socga;

ii. to represent the rights and interests of athletes and to make related recommendations;

and

iii. to maintain contact with the IOC athletes’ commission.

The athletes’ commission shall:

i. be composed of only athletes within the set eligibility criteria who have participated within the last three Olympics editions exclusively, can be elected as a representative on the Socga executive committee. Upon request by a national Olympic Committee, the IOC executive board may grant an exemption to the requirement that such representatives must have taken part in the Olympic Games.

ii. have a minimum of five members who are nationals of Seychelles. They must be at least 18 years of age, and have never been sanctioned for a doping offence;

iii. be composed of a majority of athletes who, at the time of their election, are at least participating at a national level in a sport on the Olympic programme, or have done so within the previous four years;

iv. have both genders represented;

v. serve a term of office of four years, with re-election possibilities, provided such would be within the dictates of the Olympic Charter, these statutes and/or their bye-laws;

vi. as ex-officio members of the athletes’ commission have the right to vote at the meetings of the athletes’ commission.

Gerard Govinden