Olympic Solidarity |04 November 2020

SSA secretary general Maureen Payet accepting a batch of light, medium and heavy slide trainers from Mr Gopal

Chess, swimming, handball receive equipment from Socga

Despite the ongoing pandemic which is affecting every facet of life including sports, the local Olympic body remains committed in its mission to support sporting associations and federations, its president Antonio Gopal has said.

Mr Gopal was speaking during a ceremony on Friday to present equipment to three sports federations, namely chess, swimming and handball.

At the ceremony which took place at the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) headquarters, Stad Linite, Mr Gopal handed over markers, ladders, hoops, cones, coaching set, agility pole, junior portable posts and balls to Jacqueline Bastienne, the secretary general of the Seychelles Handball Federation (SHF), in the presence of federation chairman Norbert Dogley and Socga’s secretary general Alain Alcindor.

Secretary general of the Seychelles Swimming Association (SSA) Maureen Payet received a batch of light, medium and heavy slide trainers, while Benjamin Hoareau of the Seychelles Chess Association (SCA) received a variety of equipment including laptop, infrared body thermometer, tables, chairs, speakers, external hard drive and hand sanitiser.

The donations fall under the annual grant of US $4,000 from the Olympic Solidarity.

Mr Gopal said due to the pandemic, Socga finds it necessary to double its combined effort with local sporting bodies to keep the youth focussed on sports activities, instead of being stressed.

He noted that other federations have benefitted from the grant and it is up to them to decide on how they appropriately use their money.

Roland Duval