With the 13th Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan Indien (CJSOI) Games set to begin in a few days, preparations continue with several public events taking place in Seychelles.
One of the recent activities was the public unveiling of the official mascot, Alda. This took place during an event held on Saturday, 26th July, in Victoria, where young people participated in dances, a carnival, music, and other performances. The event drew a large number of attendees.
The mascot was introduced as part of an effort to raise awareness about the upcoming Games. Organisers used the opportunity to distribute information and sell merchandise. Alda also engaged directly with children and young attendees.
Alda is a blue whale and was chosen to represent strength, unity, and the return of blue whales to Seychelles waters. The animal’s presence is seen as a sign of local ecosystem recovery, and it was selected as a symbol for this year’s Games.
Following the event in Victoria, Alda was also present at a sports gathering in Praslin. During this event, the mascot took part in the inauguration of a new outdoor gym alongside Maro Freminot, a youth athlete who will represent Seychelles in the Games.
The Games will run from August 1 to 10, with the opening ceremony scheduled for this Saturday. The sports on the program include athletics, badminton, basketball, volleyball, football, judo, weightlifting, swimming, sailing, and e-sports.
Participating countries include Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, and Seychelles. The competition is open to youth between the ages of 14 and 17.
Since its launch in 1994, the goal of the CJSOI Games has been to encourage cooperation and friendship among young people in the Indian Ocean region.
In the previous edition, which took place in Mauritius in 2022, Seychelles finished in third place with 45 medals, including 12 gold, 12 silver, and 21 bronze. Réunion placed first with 142 medals, followed by Mauritius with 138.
The CJSOI Games were established in 1988 as a regional sporting event held every two years. The Games bring together youth athletes from Comoros, Djibouti, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles, and Réunion. They are intended to support youth development and regional exchange through sport and culture.
