Community Development,Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton’s message for the 2012 sports season-‘Let’s work harder to achieve better results’ |04 January 2012

We did it together – the government, the ministry, the National Sports Council, the Games’ committees and sub-committees, sports federations and associations, coaches, volunteers, sponsors and athletes. We proved to ourselves, the Indian Ocean region and the world that we can move mountains when we are committed to getting something done and done well.

The athletes also proved their potential with an unprecedented 57 gold medals to finish second in the final medals standings behind Reunion with its 58 gold medals.

The 10th All-Africa Games also provided our sportsmen and women with the opportunity to celebrate their talent and energy with one gold medal and a host of silver and bronze medals.
 
We cannot forget the 29 medals won by local lifters at the African Senior Weightlifting Championship held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Youth, Junior and Senior Weightlifting Championship. The younger athletes also shone at the Jeux de l’Espoir and our special Olympians’ 12-medal harvest at the XIII Special Olympics World Summer Games also brought us joy. All these good results have their place in Seychelles’ sports history.
2012 is already here and we face new challenges as we try to consolidate what we achieved last year.

The XXX Olympic Games in London, England from July 27 to August 12 will present Seychelles with an opportunity to win the only major Games’ medal missing from its collection.

The 8th Jeux de la Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan Indien (CJSOI) in the Comoros (from July 9-16) and the Jeux de l’Espoir in Mauritius (April 12-15) will also be the stages for some of the country’s young talents to showcase their skills.

Whatever competition they compete in, Seychellois athletes should look out to excel – either by winning medals or improving their personal best times and performances.

Together we can do it and we will do it well if we all work hard towards reaching our goal.