Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 |28 February 2023

More support needed for Team Seychelles

Team Seychelles who will be taking part in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany from June 16-25 need all the support they can get, national coordinator for Special Olympics Seychelles Hellen Ernesta, who will also lead the Seychelles delegation, has said.

Ms Ernesta explained that once in Berlin, the Games’ organising committee will be taking over all the expenses, but the airfares and pocket money for the whole delegation will be borne by Special Olympics Seychelles.

She is thus urging all potential sponsors to come forward and help the organisation, especially the athletes who are living with a disability, achieve their dreams of representing the county at international level.

Ms Ernesta also thanked those who have already contributed towards the cause.

At the Special Olympics World Games, Seychelles will be represented by 10 athletes who will take part in bocce, track and field, and power lifting.

The athletes were selected during the 11th National Games of the Special Olympics Seychelles which also coincided with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is on December 3.

Team Seychelles at the Games will be made up of Donelle Ernesta (girls athletics), Jean-Marc de Silva and Anil Quatre (boys athletics), Graham Jacques, Agnielle Charlette – all from La Digue; Peter Valentin, Maggie Estico – from Praslin; Aleandro Croisée, Suzie Sarakkya – from Mahé (bocce), Richard Sophola (powerlifting), Erica Celeste (head coach), Olivier Nibourette, Vincent Cedras, Rency Balgobin, Jean Vardin (coaches), Hellen Ernesta (head of delegation), Raymonde Onezime (assistant head of delegation) and Dr Mickey Noel (medical).

For Seychelles’ representatives at World Games, the country received ten quotas ‒ six bocce players (three males and three females), three track and field athletes (two male and one female), and one powerlifter.

For bocce, a pair has been picked from the three main islands, while for athletics, the names of all first-place finishers in the various events at the National Games were put in a bag and three names were picked.

The names of male and female athletes were put into different bags for a fair selection process.

The Special Olympics World Games offer the opportunity to unite the world like no other event can, where people with and without disabilities, people of different nations, cultures, political views and religions meet and can overcome existing prejudices with the power of sport.

For the event, Germany will be welcoming 7,000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from approximately 170 countries to compete in 24 sports. The athletes will be supported by more than 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers.

In Berlin, athletes will compete in the following 24 sports disciplines ‒ athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce, bowling, cycling, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics (artistic), gymnastics (rhythmic), handball, judo, kayaking, open water swimming, power-lifting, roller skating, sailing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, volleyball and beach volleyball.

Since the first Special Olympics International Games in 1968, the world has transcended the boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, culture, and religion to come together every two years for the Special Olympics World Games.

Alternating between summer and winter, the World Games have become the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement and have grown to be an international demonstration of inclusion, acceptance, and unity.

All around the world, athletes train and strive to achieve their very best every day.

During World Games, the entire Special Olympics movement comes together to see the athletes in action and celebrate their victories over huge odds. No other event in the world has the social and emotional impact of the Special Olympics World Games.

For the athletes and their families, the experience opens doors to unimagined possibilities.

For volunteers, coaches, and other supporters from all parts of the world, the Games inspire hope for and belief in a brighter future of global acceptance, understanding, and unity.

Text and photos Roland Duval