2023-08-23 06:00:00
A few days before the launch of the 11th edition of the Indian Ocean Island Games, which will be held in Madagascar from September 25 to 3, participants from the sister islands are beginning to arrive. Just yesterday, a strong Mauritian delegation, made up of around 600 people, arrived in the capital. They are coaches, athletes and various officials and among them are Malagasy, like Fidy Rasoanaivo, coach of the M football club of Mauritius, and no less brother of the national technical director of the Malagasy football federation , Rado Rasoanaivo.
Despite his joy at participating in the games, the president of the Olympic Committee of Mauritius, Philippe Hao-Thyn-Voon, confiding in a daily newspaper on the island of Reunion, particularly invited the accompanying persons and the athletes to be very vigilant. “I salute the Malagasy initiative to organize these games despite the constraints. The Games will be a success, but I cannot help feeling some apprehension, concerning, among other things, catering and accommodation”, which according to him, “remain sensitive subjects”.
The Reunionese delegation, made up of around 720 people, including nearly 500 athletes, is also expected in the Malagasy capital tomorrow. The Reunionese authorities accompanying this delegation in the preparation seem to have taken all the necessary measures to avoid possible problems. But obviously, the Malagasy authorities also seem to have done what is necessary to ensure that the Games run smoothly.
The COJI announced a few days ago that more than 80 hotels have been “mobilized” to welcome the participants. These reception infrastructures would have the capacity to accommodate more than 4,240 athletes. It remains to be seen whether the organization of the games and the treatment of foreign delegations will be flawless to avoid precisely the bad example of Kinsasa from the last time, within the framework of the Games of La Francophonie where the Malagasy delegation was mistreated by the host country. .
It will also be necessary for the Malagasy side to transform this sporting event into an economic and particularly touristic opportunity in order to convey a good image of Madagascar through these participants.
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