Olympic Day Run 2005-Big turn-out for runs on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue |27 June 2005

Before setting off for the runs, the participants listened to this year’s joint message by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan.

On Mahe, the message was read by Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc) president Antonio Gopal, while Snoc members Joanna Hoareau and Paule Domingue read the same message on Praslin and La Digue respectively.

Because the year 2005 has been declared as the ‘International Year of Sports and Physical Education’ by the United Nations, emphasis was placed on tolerance, fair play and equal rights.

The message reads:
“In recent years, the world has seen many examples of how sports can build self-esteem, leadership skills, community spirit and bridges across ethnics or communal divides. We have seen how well-designed sports programmes can be catalyst for economic growth, and cost-effective ways to improve health and education – for young people in particular. Sports also offer endless opportunities for innovative partnerships between international organisations, civil society groups, private sector businesses and others.

“On this Olympic Day, when millions of people around the world will take the traditional run to mark the birth of the modern Olympics, we call on the sporting community to re-dedicate itself to the goals of service to the community, the advancement of humankind and universal peace.”

Frenchman Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee on June 23, 1894 at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.

On Mahe, the run started at Stad Popiler and the participants headed to the Palais des Sports round-about via the Bois de Rose Avenue. They returned to Stad Popiler by taking the Ste Thérèse, Plaisance and Mont Fleuri roads.

On Praslin, the participants ran from the Grand Anse playing field to the Ile de Palmes Airport and back to the starting line.

The run began at La Passe on La Digue and the runners headed to the island’s playing field and back to La Passe.

All participants received certificates at the end of the fun run.

G. G.