Seychelles is ready to welcome the athletes and officials to the Games village.”

President James Michel was speaking after visiting the Indian Ocean Games Village at Ile Perseverance this afternoon. He was welcomed by Designated Minister Mr. Vincent Meriton, who is the Chairman of the Organizing Commission of the Indian Ocean Island Games (Jeux des Iles de L’Ocean Indien-CJSOI). Also present during the visit were Mr. Denis Rose, Principal Secretary for Youth and Sports; Mr. Christian Lionnet, Principal Secretary Land Use and Housing; Mr. Antonio Gopal, Chairman of Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (SOCGA) and chairman of COJI; Mr. Eric Arnephie, the Games Commissioner; and Mr. Colin Quatre, who is the Village Mayor.

President Michel visited the different areas of the village, which include an animation area for cultural performances, the kitchen and dining area, as well as viewing some the 286 houses allocated to the athletes, management, and officials of the Games.

“We need to recognize that the infrastructure like houses, the water desalination plant, and modern kitchen facility, are long-term investments that will benefit our national development … for example, Seychellois families will be allocated with houses soon after the Games … the kitchen will be used for producing meals for schools, and the water desalination plant will be used by the Ile Perseverance community.”

The Seychelles delegation, comprised of 340 athletes and officials, will be the first contingent out of the 1,800 coming from 7 Indian Ocean countries, to enter the Games Village on Monday, August 1 to participate in the 8th Indian Ocean Islands Games, which will held for the second time in Seychelles from August 5-14, 2011.

“I want to congratulate the Seychellois people, who have in recent months risen up to the occasion through their patriotism and generous contributions to ensure that the Games are a big win for Seychelles,” said the President.

President Michel thanked Minister Meriton and the Games organizing committee and everybody involved in the work for the Games for doing a good job in preparing the village and ensuring that all services are available in time for the Games.

“We have invested in the athletes and the development of our youth, in their training and sporting facilities at their disposition; now it is up the athletes to rise up to the occasion and to do their best for a victory for the people of Seychelles.”

The Games village forms part of a 2-billion-rupee project of the first phase of the Ile Perseverance Housing project, which is due to be completed in 2017.