Opening ceremony of the 10th CJSOI Games in Madagascar |01 August 2016

Athletes urged to give their all for their countries

The 10th Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’océan Indien (CJSOI) Games were officially launched on Saturday afternoon at the Palais des Sports de Mahamasina in Antananarivo, Madagascar where a great spectacle of live music and dance were the highlights of the event.

The more than 800 athletes from the seven CJSOI member countries were for the first time paraded in front of a large crowd at the venue where Seychelles was joined by Djibouti, Reunion, Mauritius, Mayotte, Comoros and of course the hosts Madagascar. The mascot, Madagascar’s very own Lemur was on hand to entertain the crowd.

In his speech for the opening ceremony, Madagascar Youth and Sports Minister, Dr Jean Anicet Andriamosarisoa, said it was an honour for his country to host such an event and he heaped praises on everyone who worked hard to make it happen.

To the athletes he said: “I ask you to give the very best you can during the coming days as these games are made for you and therefore you must give your all for your country.”

The opening was graced by the presence of the President of Madagascar, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who delivered a speech in which he said the first victory for the athletes has already been won, simply by being in Madagascar.

“Whether competing individually or in a team, sports will always bring us together and also give us the opportunity to give our very best in something positive,” he added.

He continued: “You, the youths, are the future of your respective countries and you are the voice of peace in the region. For that, we are very proud of all of you.”

President Rajaonarimampianina then urged the athletes to not only compete, but to experience it and to look to continue improving.

After a Malagasy athlete and a Mauritian official had taken the games’ oath on behalf of their colleagues, the ceremony then continued with a number of stage performances as the athletes took their places in the stands.

To avoid any political issues like those that plagued the last Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion in 2015, only the official CJSOI flag will be used during the medals presentation ceremony.

Meanwhile, during the first day of competition yesterday (Sunday), the Seychelles female football team were to play Madagascar and the table tennis players were expected to be in action in the morning and late afternoon.

Text and photos by Sedrick Nicette in Madagascar