President Ramkalawan Leads Strategic Meeting on 13th Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan Indien (CJSOI) Games Preparations
The meeting brought together key stakeholders from the organizing committee to address critical challenges and ensure the smooth execution of the games. President Ramkalawan evaluated initial proposals and swiftly proposed actionable solutions, particularly concerning infrastructure upgrades and athletes' training needs. To mitigate disruptions caused by ongoing renovations, the President suggested alternative training venues to support athletes' preparation schedules.
Marc Arissol, CEO of the National Sports Council (NSC), provided a progress update on organizational milestones. While significant advancements have been made in logistics and event planning, Mr. Arissol emphasized the ongoing development of sports facilities and accommodation for participants.
Albert Duncan, CEO of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), reassured attendees that preparations under the SNYC's purview, including the opening and closing ceremonies and the youth-focused "Volet Jeunesse" program, remain on track.
The CJSOI Games are a pivotal event for the Indian Ocean region, promoting youth development, regional cooperation, and cultural exchange. This year's edition will bring together young athletes from member countries in a celebration of sporting excellence.
Among the attendees were key officials, including Minister for Youth, Sports, and Family Marie-Céline Zialor; Principal Secretary for Sports Ralph Jean-Louis; and representatives from the NSC and SNYC. Notable participants included Lucas Georges (Director for Corporate Liaison and Games, NSC), Aldo Rose (Senior Project Officer, NSC), Ronald Wong (NSC), Josette Cadence (Director of Program, SNYC), Francois Magloire (Senior compliance Officer,SNYC), Faisal Naiken (Program Officer, SNYC), and Jude Commettant (Controller General, Ministry of Finance).
The meeting underscored the government's commitment to delivering a successful and memorable edition of the games.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Filipino Times
8 hours ago
- Filipino Times
Trump to Establish White House Olympics Task Force for 2028 LA Games
United States President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Tuesday to create a White House task force focused on preparing for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. According to a senior administration official, the task force will be responsible for handling issues related to security, logistics, and coordination across various levels of government. The task force will include members from Trump's cabinet as well as multiple federal agencies. Its main duties will involve coordinating efforts between federal, state, and local authorities, particularly in areas such as transportation and infrastructure. It will also work to streamline visa and credentialing processes for international athletes, coaches, officials, and media personnel coming to the United States for the event. Trump, whose second presidential term is set to coincide with the global sporting event, views the Olympics as a key milestone of his presidency. The former president, who played a role in securing the U.S. bid for the 2028 Games during his first term, considers the opportunity to oversee the Olympics a personal and national achievement. Organizers of the LA28 Games recently revealed the initial Olympic competition schedule, as excitement builds for the city's third time hosting the event—following the 1932 and 1984 editions. Casey Wasserman, chair and president of LA28, praised the creation of the federal task force, calling it a major step in ensuring the Games are the most successful in history.


Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
How England-India Test series became an all-time classic
England v India 2025 will go down as one of cricket's greatest Test series of all time, five matches crammed into seven weeks of unrelenting, see-saw drama ending in a 2-2 draw after India's extraordinary six-run win in the final game on Monday. Over 7,000 runs were scored, including a record-equalling 21 individual centuries, the sun shone most of the time and every match went into the fifth day. The stadiums were packed and although tensions flared at times on the pitch - perhaps inevitable given the immense pressure - it was a series that featured all the best things that make Test cricket such compulsive viewing. With more and more one-day cricket around the world, it was a timely boost for the longest format of the sport which many people believe is fighting for its existence. "It's been an incredible series, all five games going down to day five, so much has been put into this series from both teams," England captain Ben Stokes said. "The commitment and energy has been outstanding. Stood here now, we're bitterly disappointed we couldn't get the series win but, being a massive advocate of the game of Test cricket, this series has been an unbelievable advert for it across the world." It all started at Headingley where three India batsmen made centuries, before a collapse that was to become a feature of the series, as they posted 471 and England replied with 465. Rishabh Pant's second hundred of the game led India to 364 before Ben Duckett's stroke-laden 149 inspired England's textbook chase of a huge target of 371 to complete a five-wicket win. ONE-SIDED TEST The second Test at Edgbaston was by far the most one-sided. India captain Shubman Gill made a brilliant 269 in his side's first-innings 587. Harry Brook's 158 was the foundation of England's 407 in reply, but Gill made 161 to take his match tally to 430 runs and the hosts could muster only 271 as India levelled the series with a crushing 336-run triumph. On to Lord's and as if to prove how well matched the teams were, they posted identical first-innings totals of 387, only the ninth time in Test history that has happened. Joe Root's 104 and KL Rahul's 100 were the major contributions on a tricky wicket devoid of pace. England could manage only 192 second time around but, as happened so often, the pendulum swung when they then reduced the touring side to 58-4 at the close on day four. At lunch on the final day, India were teetering on 112-8 but Ravindra Jadeja batted for well over three hours, and it was deep into the last session when spinner Shoaib Bashir bowled Mohammed Siraj to complete a 22-run England win. BAT DOMINATED At Old Trafford, the bat dominated once more. India made a respectable 358 before England racked up a massive 669, highlighted by Root's 150 and 141 from Stokes. Chris Woakes then took two wickets in the first over to reduce India to 0-2 before Rahul and Gill led a brilliant recovery. Gill made another hundred but when they both fell on the final morning England had plenty of time to take the six remaining wickets with India facing a seemingly impossible run chase. Jadeja and Washington Sundar had other ideas, however, and doggedly resisted, both reaching three figures after England effectively gave up and were reduced to bowling part-timer Harry Brook to allow the batsmen to get to their milestones quicker. The draw left England 2-1 up going into the final game at The Oval with the exertions of the series taking a heavy toll on both teams. England were missing all-rounder Stokes and fast bowler Jofra Archer while India were forced to leave out Pant and the world's top-ranked bowler in Jasprit Bumrah. England skittled India for 224 before eking out a narrow first-innings lead of 23. Yashasvi Jaiswal's second century of the series lifted the touring side to 396 and left England needing 374 for victory with two days remaining. TWIN CENTURIONS The hosts stumbled to 106-3 before twin centurions Root and Brook shared a superb fourth-wicket partnership of 195 to put England firmly in the driving seat with only 66 runs required. Brook's reckless dismissal, however, gave India hope and, led by the tireless Siraj, they picked up two more wickets before bad weather forced an early close to leave England needing 35 runs on the final day. The Oval was packed for an incredible one-hour cameo that encapsulated the entire series as England began the day with a more than 80% chance of victory, according to the Winviz predictor. But Siraj was inspired again and with England's batsmen losing their heads and their wickets, Woakes arrived at the crease wearing a sling to protect his dislocated shoulder. Even then, England edged towards their target as Gus Atkinson farmed the strike and hit Siraj for six, only for the abrasive fast bowler to end proceedings with a brilliant yorker. It was just reward for India, who lost the toss in all five matches, as they claimed their narrowest-ever test win. "All the doubters saying Test cricket is dying a death, this series has said the opposite," Stokes added.


Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE's Commando Group take top honours in Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship
The curtain came down on the inaugural edition of the Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship, held over three days at ADNEC Centre Al Ain, on Sunday. Emirati clubs delivered a powerful statement, sweeping the top three positions in the championship. Organised by International Vision Sports Management (IVSM), the championship featured thrilling matches and high-level competition, drawing a large crowd and more than 1,000 athletes from over 60 countries to the Al Ain Region. The final day saw the culmination of professional category matches, with standout performances energising the crowd. The UAE's Commando Group topped the standings in the division, followed by ADMA International in second place and M.O.D UAE in third. Winners were awarded medals and cash prizes at the conclusion of the event. Pouya Rahmani of Team Nogueira Dubai, who won gold in the Men's Grappling / 18+ / Professionals (125kg division), said: 'I feel amazing. This is my first world title in grappling as a black belt, and it means a lot to me. It's been a long journey, and finally winning this medal is incredibly satisfying. My final match was against Haitham Redha. I lost to him the last time, and he's a strong fighter, but I managed to take the victory this time. Thank you, Abu Dhabi. Thank you, Al Ain.' Caroline Vinhaes of Piramide Grappling Association, who claimed gold in the Women's 18+ / Professionals (55kg division), added: 'I really enjoyed the championship. It is amazing to have a tournament dedicated specifically to grappling. Everything about the experience has been outstanding, from the organisation to the number of participants and the way we were treated throughout. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back and competing again.' Over the course of three days, the championship featured competitions across the professional, masters, amateur and youth categories. The impressive attendance and international participation reaffirm the event's growing status as a premier grappling competition in the region and on the global sports calendar. This initiative was held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and under the umbrella of Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP). In attendance on the final day and participating in the awards ceremony were Sheikh Tarik bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Saeed Al Dhaheri, Destination Management Department Director at the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, and Tareq Al Bahri, General Manager of International Vision Sports Management. Tareq Al Bahri, General Manager of IVSM, said: 'This year, we succeeded in delivering an exceptional edition of the Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship by attracting top-tier international athletes to the Al Ain Region and organising professional-level matches that reflect Abu Dhabi's status as the world capital of jiu-jitsu. We thank all our supporting partners and the fans whose presence played a vital role in making this event a success. 'We promise to continue delivering high-calibre grappling championships that elevate the sport and help uncover new talent at both the local and global levels."