XXVIII Olympic Games in Athens, Greece-Olympics an unforgettable experience, athletes told |21 August 2004

SEYCHELLOIS athletes participating in the Athens Olympic Games met with sports principal secretary Patrick Nanty at the Olympic Village in Andromeda on Thursday night.

Accompanied by wife Jacqueline, PS Nanty also had dinner with officials of the Seychelles delegation in the common dinning hall of the Olympic Village.

Also present for the occasion was Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc) president Antonio Gopal and wife Paule, as well as Seychelles' attaché Papakokkinos Panyiotis.

Mr Nanty, who was presented with a gift, told the athletes to "enjoy yourselves at the Games as it is an unforgettable experience for all of you. Good luck to all of you who are still competing."

He also told the athletes to be proud of themselves as it is not easy for a small country like Seychelles to be represented in seven disciplines at the Olympics.

"I appreciate the efforts being made by all athletes and Snoc, but I think that all Olympians should play a part in the Seychelles Olympian Association. I've talked to Mr Gopal about it and he agrees that all Seychellois Olympians should come forward and bring something to make the association even stronger," he said.

Apart from female 100m hurdler Celine Laporte, who had left the team's base for a doping control test, and Laser sailor Allan Julie, who only arrived at the Olympic Village at 10.15 p.m. (11.15 p.m. Seychelles time) after his races as he had to wait for transport for almost an hour's drive from the Agios Kosmas Sailing Centre in Athens to the Games Village, all the other athletes were present for the meeting.

It is to note that a small exhibition with photos of Seychellois athletes in action in Athens has also been set up in the lobby of the Seychelles delegation's apartment.