Snoc president Gopal shows off his merit award

ANTONIO Gopal, president of the Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc), has been awarded an Association of National Olympic Committees (Anoc) Merit award for his remarkable contribution towards the development of sports and the spreading of the Olympic ideals in Seychelles.

A member of Snoc's executive committee ever since its creation in 1979, Gopal received his award during the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) annual general meeting in Athens, Greece, from February 22 to 27.

Elected as Snoc president for the first time in 1992, Gopal was nominated for the award by the local Olympic committee but it was Anoc which had the final say in deciding the recipients for this year's Merit Award.

Speaking to Sports Nation on Wednesday March 10, Gopal, a building consultant by profession, said that he felt honoured and very happy to receive the award, a feat no other Seychellois has ever achieved before.

"I feel extremely happy to become the first Seychellois to be awarded such a distinctive, respected award which represents the love and devotion I've put in my work over the years," he said.

Gopal, a member of the Association of National Olympic Committees for Africa (Anoca) for the past eight years, added that the award had given him the encouragement to continue doing what he likes to do.

"The award is like a pat on the back for me. It has come as an encouragement to keep me doing my best in helping local federations and associations in achieving their goals with the support of IOC and the International Olympic Solidarity, of course," said a proud Gopal, who also had words of thanks to all Snoc executive committee members for their hard work and support over the years.

C. J.