On the afternoon of Thursday 24th July 2025, the Media, Youth, Sports and Culture Committee (MYSCC) conducted a series of site visits to inspect various sporting facilities ahead of the upcoming Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan Indien (CJSOI) 2025 Games. The visit was led by Chairperson Hon. Wavel Woodcock, who was accompanied by Vice-Chairperson Hon. Phillip Arissol, Hon. Georges Romain, Hon. Gerard Bijoux, and Hon. Valdana Sultan. Assistance was provided by supporting staff Mr. Vincent Quatre and Ms. Angelique Hill. Accompanying the Committee was CEO of the National Sports Council (NSC) Mr. Marc Arissol, NSC Senior Project Officer Mr. Aldo Rose, and Chef-Commissaire General of the CJSOI Secretariat Mr. Georges Lucas.
The visits began at the La Promenade (ex- School Meal Centre) at English River, where the Committee was apprised of the changes that had been undertaken to ensure game standards for the badminton tournament. The facility featured new seating areas for spectators, new changing rooms and bathroom facilities, as well as walls painted with dark hues to ensure better visibility of the shuttlecock during games. The visit then moved to the Victoria Gymnasium, where the basketball tournaments will be held. The highlight of the upgrades was the newly installed plastic flooring comprised of modular tiles that are interlocked together and drilled securely to the ground. Mr. Arissol commented that this new system is reportedly more durable, reduces played injuries, costed approximately 160,000 rupees in total, and is in its trial phase before national rollouts commence. Members of the Committee had the opportunity to test the flooring, remarking that the playing experience was enhanced and it was a notable upgrade to the previous flooring.
The Committee then moved to Roche Caiman, where a series of follow-up visits were conducted at the Palais Des Sports, Swimming Pool, Dojo Arena, and Stad Linite. Palais Des Sports is a multifunctional venue but will be used during the CJSOI Games for the volleyball tournaments only, although the space is designed for handball and netball as well. The facility saw the installation of a new sound and PA system to be used during the games, with the total cost of renovations to date being approximately 7 million rupees. The Swimming Pool, Dojo Arena, and Stad Linite saw various structural repairs and cosmetic upgrades such as repainting works, improved seating arrangements, and newly installed ventilation systems. The weightlifting and boxing tournaments are set to be held in the Dojo Arena consecutively.
The highlight of the visit was to the CJSOI Sports Village, a designated areas to house the athletes competing in the upcoming games. Accommodations have been prepared for a total of 704 athletes and additional trainers, coaches and medical staff, with adequate toilet and shower facilities made available. Total development and construction cost of the CJSOI Village was confirmed to be 48 million rupees. It was emphasised that these facilities could secure the reputation of Seychelles as becoming a regional hub for training and further development of the sports sector.
