XIX Commonwealth Games in India – October 3-14-Team Seychelles fly to Delhi today |29 September 2010

The team leave this morning on the first leg of their trip to Dubai, where they will have a three-hour stopover before taking a connecting flight to the Indian capital, five days before the Games’ opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

This is Seychelles’ sixth appearance in the quadrennial Games – the second-biggest multi-sports event after the Olympic Games.

Seychellois athletes will go to Delhi in search of the elusive gold medal, and Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton said at Monday’s send-off ceremony that Seychelles has a real chance of winning its first medal of the gold hue in the event.

“Our medal chances in Delhi are real. We have a real chance of winning our first Commonwealth Games gold medal this time around,” said Mr Meriton.

Contested by sportsmen and women from Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe and Oceania, the Games – as Mr Meriton puts it – are perhaps the most prestigious event in the Commonwealth in terms of its sheer size, appeal and impact.

Seychelles made its debut at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1990, four years after withdrawing from the Edinburgh Games in 1986, joining other countries protesting against Britain’s refusal to impose sanctions on South Africa.

In Victoria, Canada, in 1994, the country won its first medal – a bronze through middleweight boxer Rival Cadeau (now Payet).

He missed out on a possible silver or gold medal after arriving late for his semifinal fight against Irishman Jim Webb, who went on to win the gold medal.

Boxers Roland Raforme (heavyweight) and Gerry Legras (light welterweight) snatched a silver medal apiece after Canadian fighters dashed their gold medal dreams in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1998. Raforme lost 13-21 to Mark Simmons and Legras 8-16 to Mike Strange.

As in 1990 in Auckland, Seychelles did not win any medal in 2002 in Manchester, England, and not even one Seychelles record was improved in track & field athletics, swimming, weightlifting and cycling.

Four years later – in 2006 – in Melbourne Australia, weightlifter Janet Thélermont (now Georges) became the first Seychellois woman to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games.

She won a bronze with a total lift of 205kg, and athlete Céline Laporte did not take long to emulate her with a bronze medal of her own after registering a best leap of 6.57m in the long jump for a Seychelles record.

Team Seychelles for Delhi are the biggest the country has ever sent to the Games, and this is partly due to help received from the government of India, and local and international sponsors.

And Mr Meriton, who will be in Delhi to support local sportsmen and women, added that he takes pride in noting that most of the athletes on the team are less than 24 years old, have tremendous potential and yearn for results with the same determination as their senior counterparts.

He added that the entire Seychellois nation will be behind the athletes in this special endeavour in Delhi.

For Team Seychelles to be able to compete in Delhi, the government of India and the Indian Olympic Association have sponsored board and lodging, a large number of air tickets and athletes’ preparation.

China-based Flex Pro, Vijay Construction, Cable & Wireless, Air France and the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association have all joined to sponsor some air tickets, march-past uniforms, tracksuits, shoes, T-shirts and other items like bags, caps and water bottles.

Faced with the threat of mass withdrawals, Delhi has already started welcoming guests from the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories. Altogether 7,000 athletes and officials are to stay at the Games Village located along the east bank of the River Yamuna.

Delegations that have already arrived in Delhi are from Kenya, Nigeria, Scotland, Canada, South Africa, Tanzania, Lesotho, Norfolk Island, Rwanda, Wales, England, Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and British Virgin Islands.

Australia, host nation of the previous Games, will lead the parade of nations who march in alphabetical order. Host nation India will be the last to enter the stadium.

G. G.