Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Organising Committee, set up by the Mauritius Athletics Association (MAA) with regards to the 22nd African Senior Athletics Championships, scheduled from 8 to 12 June 2022 in Mauritius, was presented to the press this afternoon at Côte d’Or National Sports Complex, in the presence of the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation, Mr Stephan Toussaint, and other personalities.
The Committee will be chaired by Mr Giandev Moteea while members have been allocated responsibilities relating to secretariat, finance, technical aspects, accommodation and food services, transport, protocols, press and communication, accreditation, medical issues, antidoping, infrastructure and equipment, security, as well as marketing and sponsoring.
A Commission to focus solely on sanitary protocol for COVID-19 is also part of the Organising team. The competition venue will be the Côte d’Or Sports Complex.
It is recalled that the Council of the African Athletics Confederation (AAC) has designated Mauritius to host the Championships as well as the AAC Elective Congress. It is the third time that Mauritius will hold the Championships following the 8th and 15th editions in 1992 and 2006, respectively.
In his address, the Sports Minister deemed that the organisation of this important athletic sporting event has been entrusted in experienced well capable hands and that it will be a success.
He stated that the Côte d’Or Sports Complex will be ready to welcome the Championships by November 2021, giving local athletes as well as technicians time to adapt to the new venue and adjust their preparations.
According to Mr Toussaint, the African Senior Athletics Championships are an opportunity for Mauritian athletes to compete against top-sportspersons and grow in confidence for future competitions, such as the Commonwealth Games expected to take place between 28 July and 8 August 2022, the Jeux de la Francophonie from 19 to 28 August 2022, and the 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games.
The Government will contribute financially and provide necessary assistance for the event, assured the Minister. He added that the Sports Ministry will collaborate fully with the Organising Committee and the MAA to make the Championships a success, despite the COVID-19 situation.
For his part, the Chairperson of the Organising Committee affirmed that they will be working hard over the next eight months to put the event together, relying on teamwork and the support of one and all.
Also present at the event, the President of the MAA and responsible for the Organising team’s secretariat, Mr Paramasiven Sammynaden, was of the view that the Championships will motivate local athletes to train hard and return to competitions after the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
