XXII Commonwealth Games – Team Seychelles sending-off ceremony |22 July 2022
Famous athletes should portray motivation, not intimidation, says President Ramkalawan
Competing alongside world famous athletes should be a motivation, a challenge, along with the willpower to perform better, instead of intimidation and fear of losing against them, President Wavel Ramkalawan has told our local athletes who will be taking part in the 2022 Commonwealth Games scheduled for Birmingham, England from July 28 to August 8.
He was speaking at the official sending-off ceremony held yesterday at the Kempinski Seychelles Resort, at Baie Lazare, in the presence of Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Minister for Youth, Sports and Family Marie-Celine Zialor, Minister for Local Government and Community Affairs Rose-Marie Hoareau, principal secretary for Youth and Sports Ralph Jean-Louis, president of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) Antonio Gopal, general manager of the Kempinski Seychelles Resort Philippe Charraudeau, athletes, coaches and other members of the Seychelles delegation for the Games.
Officially known as the XXII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Birmingham 2022, the competition is an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth.
Birmingham was announced as host on December 21, 2017, marking England's third time hosting the Commonwealth Games after London 1934 and Manchester 2002, and the seventh Games in the United Kingdom after London and Manchester, Cardiff 1958, Edinburgh 1970 and 1986, and Glasgow 2014.
President Ramkalawan said while the younger athletes will be seeking experience, the seasoned ones will be focussing on bringing home medals and that the whole country will be behind them in attempting that challenge.
He also reminded them that as ambassadors of the country, they have been assigned the task of flying the national flag and make the country’s national anthem heard for the first time at these Games.
The president urged them to remain focussed and to maintain a high level of concentration and also a good sense of discipline all throughout the Games.
For the younger athletes, President Ramkalawan said they should use all the emotions and experience they will gain at the event as a stepping stone, pushing them forward in pursuing better results in the future.
President Ramkalawan also acknowledged the hard work put in the preparation, and thanked all the coaches for preparing the athletes, the parents and family members for their support, the local sporting federations and associations for identifying the athletes and giving them the opportunity to compete at such level, but most of all to represent the country, also all the sponsors, work places, and everyone else who helped our athletes.
In her address, Minister Zialor reminded those present, particularly the athletes that even though Seychelles may be one of the smallest countries in the Commonwealth, we remain firm in our belief and commitment to excel in sports.
She said the athletes should let the Commonwealth Games be the platform for them, not only to test international competition but also to measure where they stand amongst the best in the world in their respective sporting events.
Minister Zialor also reminded the athletes that as the best in their respective sporting disciplines, the whole country is behind them and expects nothing but the best of their efforts to fly our national flag high.
She also reminded them that as the country’s sports ambassadors, our young athletes look up to them as role models, therefore, they are expected take this responsibility seriously.
On his part, Socga president Gopal said the Games are the perfect opportunity the athletes have been waiting for to show the world the years of preparation that they have endured, and that should reflect what the sports federations and the country have invested in them.
President Ramkalwan then handed over the national flag to Seychelles’ flag bearers at the Games, namely female high jumper Natasha Chetty and boxer Keddy Agnes, before presenting all the athletes, coaches and other members of the delegation with a flag.
The Seychelles contingent for the XXII Commonwealth Games will leave the country on Sunday and is expected back on Wednesday August 10.
The athletes, coaches and officials making up Team Seychelles at the XXII Commonwealth Games:
Athletics – Ned Azemia (men's 400m hurdles), Sharry Dodin (men's 100m and 200m), Dylan Sicobo (men's 100m and 200m), Iven Moïse (men’s 1,500m), Denzel Adam (men's 100m and 200m) and Natasha Chetty (women’s high jump)
Coaches – Giovanni Fanny and Scott Williamson
Boxing – Keddy Agnes (over 92kg – super heavyweight), Shain Boniface (over 67kg-71kg – light middleweight) and Fabio Roselie (over 60kg-63.5kg – light welterweight)
Coaches – Rival Payetand Gerry Legras
Cycling – Yohan Monthy (men's road race and time trial), Mario Ernesta (men's road race and time trial), Stephen Belle (men's road race, sprint and 15km scratch race)
Coaches – Ahmad Arrisol and Samuel Rignace
Judo – Jean-Michel Vidot (men's -66 kg), Dominic Dugasse (men's +100 kg)
Coach – Marie -Annette Vidot
Squash – Marcus Adela (men's singles)
Coach – Klaus Pragassen
Swimming – Mathieu Bachmann (men's 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 4 x 100m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay), Simon Bachmann (men's 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 4 x 100m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 200m freestyle relay), Adam Moncherry (men's 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 4 x 100m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay), Tyler Fred (men's 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 4 x 100m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 200m freestyle relay), Aaliyah Palestrini(women's 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 400m freestyle, mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay), Therese Soukup (women's 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 400m freestyle, mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay)
Coaches – Steven Mangroo and Vanessa Narty
Weightlifting – Romentha Larue (women’s 87kg), Clementina Agricole (women’s 59kg)
Coach – Reginald Estro
Table tennis – Godfrey Sultan (men's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles), Mick Crea (men's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles), Laura Sinon (women's singles, women's doubles, mixed doubles), Christy Bristol (women's singles, women's doubles, mixed doubles)
Coach – Janice Mellie
Officials
Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) President Antonio Gopal
Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) Secretary General Alain Alcindor
Chef de mission – Norbert Dogley
Team leader – Fatoumata Kanté
Medical – Rodriguez Martin
Physio – Gracie Nartey
Support staff – Anthea Sinon
Ministerial delegation
Minister for Youth, Sports and Family Marie-Celine Zialor
Principal Secretary for Youth and Sports Ralph Jean-Louis
National Sports Council chief executive officer Jean Laue
Sharon Ernesta, Executive Director/International Cooperation Minister’s Secretariat - Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family
Roland Duval
Photos: Louis Toussaint
