2001 Sports Awards of the Year

THE Organising Committee of the Sports Awards of the Year ceremony has said that everything's set and ready for Friday's eagerly-awaited gala at the SMB Exhibition Hall, Roche Caïman, when the best male and female performers of the year 2001 will be crowned.

A spokesperson for the committee told Sports Nation Thursday that tickets will not be sold Friday and that all guests and paid spectators should be seated by 7 p.m. for the start of the 18th edition of the Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony.

Both outgoing Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Allan Julie and Juliette Ah-Wan have a chance of retaining their titles as they feature among the finalists. As for 18-year-old shot putter Helda Marie, who eight days ago was unanimously voted the best junior female athlete of the year, she could make it a clean sweep if she is crowned Sportswoman of the Year.

The Selection Committee is to meet early Friday afternoon to decide the top five males and females in order of preference.

The 10 female finalists are athletes Helda Marie and Lindy Leveaux, volleyballers Marille Finesse and Annie Dugasse, badminton players Juliette Ah-Wan and Catherina Paulin, weightlifter Janet Thélermont, tennis player Fatim Kanté, basketballer Simone Bamboche and table tennis player Janice Esparon.

The 10 male finalists vying for the top prize are outgoing Sportsman of the Year Allan Julie, athletes Selwyn Beauchamp and Ronny Marie, badminton player Georgie Cupidon, basketballer Jefferson Nganga, cyclist Hudson Mathieu, bodybuilder Joelen Valentin, footballer Harry Libanotis, judoka Gerard Baker and swimmer Barnsley Albert.

Meanwhile, the Organising Committee has said that it has raised a total of R175,000 in cash and in kind.

Twenty-seven businesses and working organisations have supported the event either in cash or in kind. They are MEJ Electrical (R5,000), Nouvobanq (R5,000), La Scala Restaurant (R5,000), Seystyle Tailoring (R5,000), Land Marine (R5,000), State Assurance Corporation of Seychelles (R20,000), Ahbaye Valabhji (R5,000), Development Bank of Seychelles (R10,000), Mohan Shopping Centre (R10,000), Seychelles National Oil Company (R5,000), Seychelles Housing Development Corporation (R8,000), Mahe Shipping (R8,000), Seychelles National Olympic Committee (R10,0000), J & G Contractor (R10,000), Laxmanbhai (R15,000), Savings Bank (R10,000), Lafarge Cement Company (R5,000),  Banque Française Commerciale de l'Océan indien (R10,000), V. T. Pillay (R5,000), Takamaka District Administration (R5,000), Skychef (R5,000), Printec Press Holdings (R10,000), National Women's Sports Committee (R20,000).

The successors of Ah-Wan and Julie will each receive a return ticket to any European destination sponsored by Air Seychelles, R15,000, the huge floating cup, a certificate and another smaller cup.

The runners-up will get a return ticket to Johannesburg also sponsored by Air Seychelles, R8,000, a cup and a certificate.

The local airline will also sponsor two return tickets to Singapore, one each to the female and male third place finishers who will also pocket R6,000, a cup and a certificate apiece.

As for British Airways, it will give away a return ticket to Nairobi to both the female and male fourth-place finishers who will also get R4,000 each, a cup and a certificate.

The two fifth placed finishers will each get a weekend for two at the Plantation Club Hotel, R3,000, a cup and a certificate.

As for the best female and male junior winners – Helda Marie and Marvis Confait – they will each pocket R1,500 each, a cup, a certificate and a return ticket to Reunion sponsored by Air Austral.

It is to be noted that all male and female athletes chosen as the best by their respective federations or associations will get R3,000.