9th Indian Ocean Island Games |29 August 2015

Athletes rewarded for their performances

Medallists from the recently ended Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG)) which was held in Reunion Island were yesterday rewarded in a ceremony held at the Seychelles Trading Company’s (STC) conference room.

Having promised cash prizes of up to R25,000 for athletes able to win medals at the IOIG, the government yesterday made good on that promise by rewarding the athletes with their cheques based on their performance.

Those who won gold medals received R25,000, for a silver medal they won R15,000 and they received R10,000 for bronze. Meanwhile, the private sector also played their part, with Vijay Construction and the Seychelles Petroleum Company (Seypec) also adding to the cash prize.

Seypec gave R10,000 to all gold medallists, R7,000 to silver medallists and R5,000 to bronze medallists.

As for Vijay Construction, it offered R10,000 (gold medallists), R6,000 (silver medallists) and R3,000 (bronze medallists).

The Seychelles Civil Aviation Agency (SCAA) also matched the prize being offered by the Government for all its workers who won medals in Reunion.

In his speech, the Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports, Vincent Meriton, congratulated all the athletes who represented Seychelles at the IOIG, in particular those who really gave their all to win our country 25 gold medals, 39 silver medals and 32 bronze medals.

“We had promised you that you would be rewarded if you won a medal at the games and this afternoon we, along with our sponsors, are here to honour that promise,” said the minister.
He added: “We are proud that today we have athletes who will receive R230,000… and this says a lot as it will take a very long time for someone to work and save to eventually have that amount of money.”

“This shows us then that those who are ready to work hard, devote themselves and make sacrifices in sports there are rewards at the end of the day,” he stated.

It was not only the IOIG athletes who were rewarded yesterday, as the Special Olympic athletes who returned triumphant from the adventure at the World Games in Los Angeles in the United States of America were also given a cash prize by the government. R10,000 was offered to the gold medallists, with R6,000 for silver medals and R4,000 for a bronze medal. The team won a total of five gold medals, three silver and one bronze during their US adventure.

Bernard Larue won two gold medals, Margaret Quatre won one gold,Rosie Coralie  won one gold and one bronze medal, while Daniel Accouche won a gold and a silver medal, with Alberto Joubert and Marie Jacqueline Rose winning one silver medal each.

 “I want to also congratulate our special athletes who competed at the world games and we did not forget about you as you will also be rewarded,” said Minister Meriton.

The IOIG team had a total delegation of 365 people, among whom were 236 athletes in 14 different sports, where 140 of them managed to return home with a medal.

Before the athletes and coaches were rewarded with their prizes they were each presented with a participation certificate and medal.

Among the athletes from the IOIG, it was swimmer Alexus Laird who was the recipient of the biggest cash prize as she pocketed R227,000 from a performance of three gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals at the games. An employee of the SCAA, three-time weightlifting gold medallist Steven Baccus went home with R210,000
Below is the full list of the Seychelles medal winners from the 2015 IOIG according to their sport.

Athletics: Lissa Labiche (2 Gold), Jude Sidonie (1 Gold), Leeroy Henriete (1 silver, 1 bronze), Dyland Sicobo (1 bronze), Neddy Marie (2 silver, 1 bronze), Ned Azemia (1 silver), Nelson Tamboo (1 silver), Iven Moise (1 silver), Lester Dogley (1 bronze), Noris Brioche (1 bronze), Dean William (1 bronze), Ana Barra (1 bronze), Athina Freminot (1 bronze) and Rennick Belize (1 bronze).

Badminton: Fabien Gerry (1 bronze), Georgie Cupidon (3 bronze), Nicholas Jumaye (1 bronze), Richie Course (1 bronze), Steve Malcouzanne (2 bronze), Cynthia Course (1 silver), Shirley Etienne (1 silver), Chlorie Cadeau (1 silver), Alisen Camille (3 silver) and Juliette Ah-Wan (1 silver, 2 bronze)

Basketball: Bronze medal for men’s team: Abdel Sylla, Andrew Rath, Bernard Bristol, Timmy Adam, Arnaud Arrisol, Amadou Sylla, Ron Estico, Dave Roseline, Robert Leon, Rodney Loze and Steven Andre.

Boxing: Keven Kilindo (gold), Keddy Agnes (gold), Andrique Alissop (silver), Jovet Jean (silver), Alva Botsoie (silver), Alvin Botsoie (bronze), Lorenzo Bonne (bronze) and  Nigel Benoit (bronze).

Cycling: Fadi Confiance, Dominic Arrisol, Chris Germain and Ahmad Arrisol (bronze).

Handisports: Richard Sopha (bronze), Steven Ernesta (bronze) and Angel Fred (bronze)

Judo: Lionel Savy and Nantenaina Finesse (silver)

Sailing: Allan Julie (2 gold), Rodney Govinden (1 gold, 1 silver), Roy Govinden (1 gold, 1 silver), Meggy Gertrude (1 gold, 1 silver), David Madeleine (1 silver), Martin Servina (1 silver), Brad Andre (1 silver) and Alison Hoareau (2 silver).

Swimming: Alexus Laird (3 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), Felicity Passon (5 silver, 5 bronze), Adam Viktora (2 bronze), Dean Hoffman (2 bronze), Steven Mangroo (4 bronze), Adrian Nanty (2 bronze), Nicole Graseli Barni (1 silver, 1 bronze), Leyla Rigamonti (1 silver, 2 bronze), Amy Andre (1 bronze), Anisha Payet (1 bronze) and Stephanie Mondon (1 gold).

Table Tennis: Anissa Benstrong (1 gold)

Volleyball: Gold for women’s team: Petrina Victor, Yvonne Legaie, Melina Crispin, Atila Bonnelame, Jerina Bonne, Nathalie Agnes, Marielle Bonne, Petra Richard, Manuella Monthy, Antoinette Quatre, Flora Lesperance and Tina Agathine.

Silver for the men’s team: Ian Furneau, Jones Mangroo, Perin Sophola, Paul Rose, Ricky Vel, Kenneth Sinon, Guy Valentin, Shane Farabeau, Rodney Ah-Kong, Guilly Bijoux, Sarel Leon and Benjamin Bijoux.

Weightlifting: Steven Baccus (3 gold), Ruby Malvina (3 gold), Clementina Agricole (3 gold), Janet Georges (3 gold), Rick Confiance (3 silver), Terrence Dixie (3 silver), Jean-Pierre Estico (3 silver), Frank Accouche (3 silver), Brenda Lozaique (2 silver, 1 bronze), Rena Agricole (3 silver ) and Ian Rose (3 bronze).