High Level Sports-Scheme revised |06 June 2008

This is the message Robert Auguste, the head of the High Performance Sports Division within the National Sports Council, wishes to send out to Seychellois sportsmen and women.

Earlier this week, Mr Auguste released the names of the eight athletes who are benefitting from the revised High Level Sports scheme divided into three levels – World, Pre-World and Continental.

The 11 athletes are male laser sailor Allan Julie, male canoeist Tony Lespoir, female javelin specialist Lindy Leveau-Agricole, male badminton player and reigning Sportsman of the Year Georgie Cupidon (all four World Level), female laser sailor Meggie Gertrude, female badminton player Catherina Paulin, male badminton player Steve Malcouzane (all three Pre-World Level), female weightlifters Clementina Agricole and Janet Thélermont, male high jumper William Woodcock and female swimmer Shrone Austin (all four Continental Level).

Mr Auguste explained that female badminton player and reigning Sportslady of the Year Juliette Ah-Wan had been chosen to join the World level but because of her pregnancy, she has been omitted.

He added that athletes who produce good performances and results as well as win medals in different competitions worldwide will be admitted to the scheme and in appropriate levels.

When they join the scheme, the athletes sign a four-year contract which is revised yearly.

To join the World level, athletes should meet the Olympic Games qualifying standards, meet the qualifying standard of respective World Championships (where applicable), have reached the quarterfinal in previous above competitions, be medallists at the Commonwealth Games, meet the qualifying standard of the High Level Sports scheme (time/weight in related sports) and be classified in top 15 in the world in their sports disciplines on the Olympic programme.

The benefits include a monthly allowance of SR5500 or salary if more, sabbatical leave from work for the period of preparation, equipment (shoes and attire), possibility of attachment with another country, provision of adequate competitions opportunities, travel allowance, individual counseling and assistance for career and personal development.

Athletes on the Pre-World level receive a monthly allowance of R3,500 and the main criteria used for selection are that they should be classified top-25 in the world, gold medallist in All-Africa Games, gold medallist at the Jeux de Francophonie, gold medallist in African Championships, classified top-three in Africa and should meet the qualifying standard of the HLS.

As for athletes selected to the Continental level, they get R1,500 monthly and they should be under-18 years old who win gold medals at the Indian Ocean Islands Games, have met the qualifying standard for the All-Africa Games, Commonwealth Games, and Jeux de la Francophonie as established by the respective international sports federations, be a silver and/or bronze medallist in either the All-Africa Games, Afro-Asian Games or Jeux de la Francophonie, silver medallist in African Championships, classified top-five in Africa and have met the qualifying standard of the HLS.

G. G.