Official launching of Olympic clubs-All schools should log on by year-end |25 July 2005

This is exactly what the Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc), the National Olympic Academy of Seychelles (NOAS) and the Ministry of Education and Youth want to inculcate in our youths by getting them to participate actively in activities organised by Olympic clubs.”

Education and Youth Minister Danny Faure said this on Saturday morning at the SMB Exhibition Hall, Roche Caïman, to officially launch the Seychelles Olympic Club.

Present for the ceremony were Snoc president Antonio Gopal, NOAS director Alain Alcindor, representatives of sports federations and associations, clubs facilitators, schoolchildren who are members of Olympic clubs and other invitees.

Mr Faure thanked the facilitators, most of whom are teachers and Physical Education instructors, and told them that their contributions would help in the development of young Seychellois citizens.

“The target at the end of this year is for all schools to have an Olympic club and we will achieve the aim,” pointed out Minister Faure, who added that as a former athlete himself, practicing sports has helped him to learn and acquire some of these values.
Before unveiling the Olympic club logo, Mr Faure noted that when most athletes train hard to compete at the Olympic Games, the most important medal those who cannot make it to the Games can win is to display and live by those principles.

Snoc president Gopal thanked Minister Faure personally for his interest in the launching of Olympic clubs in schools here and added that “the best way to start Olympic education is with young children. To achieve this aim, we decided to go to schools, where children spend most of their time and we are slowly getting there.”

He added that through Olympic education, children will not only develop academically but also physically.

Cascade Primary School’s Ryan Dine, 10, designed the original logo and told Sports Nation “I’m happy my work has been chosen as the best.”

Graphic artist Aubrey Adeline of Hi-Tec Graphics added the finishing touch to the new logo.

The ceremony continued with Stephanie Duval, Sheryl Barra and Denis Hoareau of Mont Fleuri Secondary School giving a speech about “sports as a universal language”, Petra Tamatave taking the oath on the part of other club members and the presentation of membership cards to the students by Minister Faure and Mr Gopal.

Those present then enjoyed themselves in non-competitive sporting activities.
It is to note that until now, 11 schools on Mahe, Praslin and la Duigue have already logged on to Olympic education.

Termed a philosophy of life, Olympism brings about in a person determination, perseverance and the will to succeed. It also brings unity of thoughts among people as they share common objectives in the world arena.

A facilitator’s handbook has been compiled and designed by experienced local teachers and sports administrators to facilitate the Olympic education.

G. G.