XXX Olympic Games in London from July 27 to August 12-Seychelles flag raised at team welcome ceremony |28 July 2012
Seychelles athletes, coaches and officials during the welcome ceremony
The ceremony, which traditionally takes place before the opening ceremony of the Games, is a formal welcome to all athletes to the Games village.
Thursday’ ceremony was presided over by the deputy mayor of the Games village Lord Tony Hall and took place at the village plaza. It featured performances by members of the London National Youth Theatre.
Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton, along with community development and sports principal secretary Denis Rose, Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) president Antonio Gopal and secretary general Alain Alcindor were among those present at the event.
Lord Hall reminded the athletes that the sports of the Olympic Games should serve as the 
On behalf of the local Olympic Committee, chef de mission Mary Banane presented Lord Hall a token from Team Seychelles, before signing the Truce Wall, which is a backdrop for the team welcome ceremonies.
The wall features quotes and images from schoolchildren, reflecting their feelings about the Olympic truce.
The team welcome ceremonies don’t take place just once during the Games, but are repeated throughout several days for each nation.
Text and photos: Roland Duval in London