2020 Tokyo Olympic Games - Eight win Olympic scholarships |15 November 2017
Eight local athletes ‒ two females and six males ‒ have been chosen to benefit from a scholarship with the hope of qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
The athletes are high jumper Lissa Labiche, sprinters Ned Azemia and Dylan Sicobo (athletics), sailor Rodney Govinden, windsurfer Jean-Marc Gardette, judoka Nantenaina Finesse, boxer Keddy Agnes and swimmer Felicity Passon.
They will embark on a three-year scholarship training programme sponsored by the International Olympic Solidarity through the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games (Socga). The programme started on September 1, 2017 and will end in August 2020.
The athletes signed their scholarship contract during a briefing session at the Socga headquarters at Stad Linite in the presence of Socga president Antonio Gopal, National Sports Council (NSC) chief executive Giovanna Rousseau, secretary general of Socga Alain Alcindor as well as chairpersons and secretary generals of the relevant federations.
Female swimmer Passon, who is on an overseas scholarship and was not present, had her contract signed by her mother, Lydvine Passon. As for sailor Rodney Govinden, who is on a working mission overseas, he will sign his contract later.
A fix monthly grant of US $750 will be allocated to facilitate towards their preparation in addition to a global sum of US $5,000 to be allocated for the duration of the scholarship as travel grant to attend qualification competitions.
The athletes on the scheme will be entitled to have access to appropriate training facilities, specialised coaches, regular medical and scientific assistance and control, accident and illness insurance, board and lodging costs and allowances. In relation to all the expenses, Socga has to send a technical and financial report every four months to the Olympic Solidarity.
An athlete who does not perform to expectation or otherwise will be suspended from the programme and the fund will be re-allocated to the next athlete waiting in line for preparation for the Tokyo Olympics.
Socga president Antonio Gopal said funds are also available for athletes who are preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year. He noted that very shortly funds will also be available for athletes preparing for regional and continental games but athletes on the Goal Coast and Tokyo scheme will not be supported from the funds.
NSC chief executive Giovanna Rousseau congratulated the athletes on being chosen to join the scheme and said the government through the NSC and with the patronage of Socga will always seek means to support them, but they have to give their best to qualify.
She noted that there is always a sense of pride and self-accomplishment to enter the Olympics as a qualifier rather than with a wild card.
Ms Rousseau reminded them to be responsible and to be role models to other athletes. She also advised them to use their funds wisely and said that all semi-professional athletes enrolled on the high level scheme with the NSC are having their pension fund paid with effective from joining the scheme.
Some athletes in the group have Olympic experience and among them is female high jumper Lissa Labiche who will be making another attempt at Olympic qualification. She said she will make sure she qualifies this time.
Windsurfer Jean-Marc Gardette, who qualified for the Rio Olympics 2016 said he now have three years to prepare himself compared to the last time and is sure of making the cut.
When briefing the athletes about the scholarship, Socga secretary general Alain Alcindor said the target is for the whole group of eight to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and not to win a wild card at continental level.
Only five Seychellois athletes ‒ boxer Andrique Allisop, judoka Dominic Dugasse, windsurfer Jean-Marc Gardette and sailors Allan Julie (Finn) and Rodney Govinden (Laser) ‒ qualified for the Rio Olympics 2016 and it is hoped that the number will increase for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
P. J.