"Today is a very important moment in our sports development process as we embark on a sports education and learning programme. We hope the seeds we sow today will grow and bear fruit in the years to come."

This statement was made by Mr Patrick Nanty, principal secretary in the Ministry of Local Government Sports and Culture (MLGSC) during the official opening ceremony of an 18 month-long Sports Diploma Course Monday morning at the Sports Training Centre, Roche Caiman.

The course, one of the first in a series of training programmes for quality coaching and education in sports and leisure development, is being attended by local coaches, sports officers, development sports officers and sports administrators.

After welcoming the invited guests, participants and course lecturers, Mr Nanty noted that in today's high performance sports, the competitive edge was in the application of modern coaching methods that are based on scientific principles.

He added that the objectives of the Sports Diploma course was to provide the participants with the tools and knowledge for their professional development as coaches capable of preparing and developing our youths, and our young athletes, for podium performance in sports and for life outside sports.

"Sports play a central role in the lives of our people. Because of their important role in the sports experience, coaches, trainers, animateurs and sports leaders have the opportunity to impact on the physical, psychological and moral development of their clients. This makes coaching and training a complex endeavour with significant responsibility," said Mr Nanty who then urged the participants to take their studies seriously and to make the most of the opportunities given to them.

Mr Nanty continued by saying that the Ministry would continue to support and develop an integrated approach to our sports development programme and support programmes to promote and enhance quality coaching.

"The Ministry is successfully building strong overseas contacts and forging bilateral agreements that will allow the National Sports Training Centre to benefit from the participation of overseas training institutions and foreign experts," he explained.

To conclude Mr Nanty conveyed his ministry appreciation and wishes success to the management, staff, lecturers, facilitators of the Sports Training Centre.

"You are the pioneers of an important venture. A lot of people will be counting on your sense of discipline, professionalism and responsibility. I am sure that you will want to make them succeed at their very best, and that for you the experience is as interesting and self-rewarding," he said.

According to the course coordinator, Mr Bernard Denis, during the 18 months the participants will be following six modules which include language skills, sports science, administration and management, sports psychology, sports planning and sports First Aid.

Mr Denis said that he was very satisfied with the level of participation and the presence of the participants simply showed their effort and dedication towards the development of sports in Seychelles.

Also during the opening ceremony all the participants were presented with a tracksuit and a training bag.

It was Juliette Ah-Wan, winner of a gold medal in the ladies singles at the recent All African Badminton Championship who had the honour of accepting the small token on behalf of all the participnats as a sign of appreciation for their involvement in sports.