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Archive -Athletics

Olympic legend Fredericks runs local outreach programme |10 July 2015

Two-time Olympic silver medallist, Namibian Frankie Fredericks, led a one-day workshop for Seychellois athletes yesterday, where the main goal was to give them the tool they need in order to be better prepared for life after sports.

“So often after an athlete’s career is over, the athlete ends up lost as he/she has no other thing to do,” explained Mr Fredericks.

He added: “What we are trying to do at the International Olympic Commission (IOC) Athletes Commission is to try and help these athletes find life after sports, with regards to employment.”

The launch ceremony was done at the Maison de Football, Roche Caïman. Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games (Socga) president Antonio Gopal was among those in attendance along with secretary general Alain Alcindor, member Simone Malbrook, Puvasha Thevan from Swiss multinational human resource consulting company Adecco, as well as other invitees.

In his opening address, Mr Fredericks spoke of his delight to be in Seychelles for a second time and told the athletes that this programme is a very powerful one.

“Our goal is to give athletes the tools necessary so that they can continue being professionals after their sports years are over,” he said.

The IOC Athletes commission as Mr Fredericks explained is there to help current and former Olympic athletes and is their voice within the IOC.

It was Mr Gopal who officially launched the programme which also featured a group of athletes from the Maldives.

Mr Gopal said balancing sport with education and employment is not always easy and that is why this programme is being done in Seychelles with the view of limiting these difficulties for our athletes.

Ms Thevan on her part said the role of Adecco in this programme is to help the athletes to find suitable employment based on their strengths and to also help in giving them the necessary skills they need to succeed after sports.

Mr Fredericks added that the programme has had some success during the course of its inception, as they have been able to help thousands of athletes find employment after their years in sports were over. His next destination when he leaves Seychelles today is Mauritius and after that Malawi.

When asked how our athletes can break the mould and bring a small nation to the forefront of sports, he said the country needs to put the same emphasis it puts on preparing for IOIG when taking part in other games such as the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, so that our athletes will then strive for something higher.

 

S. N.

 

 

 

 

 

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