VII Commonwealth Youth Games |22 July 2023
Sprinter Shane Fred and swimmer Abigail Labuschagne showing off Seychelles’ official kit for the Games (Photo: Roland Duval)
‘Use the Games as a stepping stone for future Olympic quest’, says PS Jean-Louis
The Commonwealth Youth Games should be a stepping stone for our young athletes to start their quest, measure their performances, and set their goals on future major events like the Olympic Games, principal secretary for youth and sports Ralph Jean-Louis has said.
He was addressing the young athletes who will represent the country at the upcoming VII Commonwealth Youth Games which will take place in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from August 4 to 11. This was during the traditional sending-off ceremony which took place yesterday at the Olympic House at Roche Caïman, in the presence of president of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) Antonio Gopal, secretary general Alain Alcindor and parents.
Seychelles will be represented at the event by five athletes ̵ two simmers and three track and field athletes. Amos Ferley and Abigail Labuschagne (swimming), Liam Barbé, Shane Fred and Imanuella Larue (track and field) will be accompanied by coaches Gerish Rachel and Robert Suzette, while Socga executive committee member Elsia Vidot will lead the delegation.
PS Jean-Louis reminded the young athletes that they will be competing against opponents who might be better than them, but the important thing is to remain focused and stick to their objectives, while the whole country will be backing them up.
On his part, Mr Gopal reminded the athletes that the chance to compete at such Games is already a great achievement in their young sporting career.
He also encouraged them to use it as a source of experience and inspiration to work towards qualifying for future Games, at higher level.
On behalf of his fellow athletes, high-jumper Liam Barbé said the opportunity will provide them with international exposure and will further help in their preparations for the upcoming Indian Ocean Islands Games, as well as other competitions, both locally and at international level.
He also pledged to do their best with high hope of bringing home good results and making the country proud.
The young high-jumper also promised that they will be at their best behaviour during the Games, adding that the event is not only an opportunity for them to excel in their respective sporting discipline, but also to be respectful Seychelles’ sports ambassadors.
Initially scheduled for August 2021, but postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Games will be the first to be held since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III as Head of the Commonwealth and the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth Realms on September 8, 2022.
The sporting events will take place across Trinidad and Tobago, bringing a diverse perspective of the twin island country to the nations of the Commonwealth, as well as showcasing a festival of the country’s activities.
The seven sports that will feature at the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games are aquatics - swimming (National Aquatic Centre, Caroni , Trinidad), athletics and para athletics (Trinidad Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain), beach volleyball (Pigeon Point Beach, Tobago), cycling (Couva, Trinidad), cycling-track (National Cycling Velodrome, Caroni, Trinidad), FAST5 netball (Tobago Shaw Park Cultural Complex), rugby sevens (Tobago Shaw Park Cultural Complex), and triathlon (Tobago Buccoo Beach, Tobago).
The opening ceremony will take place on August 4, while during the closing ceremony which will take place on August 11, the Commonwealth Games Federation flag will be handed over to representatives of the 2025 Games which will be held in Singapore City, Singapore.
Roland Duval
