Eighth Indian Ocean Island Games: Medal winners immortalised on new monument |31 January 2014

The team behind the project in a souvenir photo

The names of athletes who made Seychelles proud at the Eighth Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) here in 2011 are now engraved on the ‘Winning for Seychelles’ monument which was unveiled yesterday afternoon at the Roche Caïman sports complex.

The monument has been created as remembrance of our record-breaking performance at the Games. Seychelles was beaten to first place by Reunion by just one gold medal in the final medals table at the end of the fiercely contested quadrennial games. The country’s athletes won 118 medals – 57 gold, 24 silver and 37 bronze – while Reunion finished with 179 medals – 58 gold, 66 silver and 55 bronze.

“Every nation in the world uses some way to record their successes achieved though sports. This is important as it helps to keep accounts for the future as well as to encourage others to do better. Here in Seychelles we keep records of our athletes who have performed well at all levels. But among all the performances registered over the last 30 years one achievement stands out from the rest,” said Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton before unveiling the monument. “It was not just the individual or team performances, but it was also the exceptional performance of a nation. The extraordinary performance of a determined small island nation,” he added.

Minister Meriton together with National Sports Council chief executive Giovanna Rousseau unveiled the monument situated in the entrance to the Stad Linite. It is next to 2011 IOIG mascot ‘Toto’ which has been a figure of attraction since.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by community development and sports principal secretary Denis Rose, Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) president Antonio Gopal, Vijay Construction’s managing director Vijay Patel, as well as athletes, coaches, and members of different sports federations.

“This monument pays homage to all athletes, coaches, officials, organisers, sponsors and the people of Seychelles for their remarkable performances and support towards the success of the 2011,” Minister Meriton added.

The monument features three hands holding the three medals – gold, silver and bronze – in the same shape as those won by the athletes during the Games. Names of athletes are engraved on the medals depending on what hue they won.

The monument was designed by Emmanuel D’Offay and sponsored by one of the main sponsors of the 2011 IOIG – Vijay Construction.

The next Indian Ocean Island Games will be hosted by Reunion Island in 2015.

The ‘Winning for Seychelles” monument