Mauritius will be represented by a contingent of 457 athletes and youth representatives. Local participants will be aiming to repeat their performance of 2019, when they finished in first place in the rankings.
The sporting event, which brings together the region’s islands, will officially kick off in Madagascar in five days’ time. The opening ceremony of the 11th edition of the Jeux des Iles de l’Océan Indien (JIOI) will be held at the Barea Mahamasina stadium in Antananarivo from 6pm (Mauritian time) on Friday. The evening will feature a parade of athletes, official speeches, a protocol ceremony with flag-raising, the games anthem and oaths. A cultural show will also highlight Malagasy identity, authenticity and hospitality through choreography, stage performances, special effects and video projections using the latest technologies.
After the opening ceremony, athletes from the participating countries – Réunion, Seychelles, Comoros, Maldives, Mayotte, Mauritius and Madagascar – will embark on 7 days of intense competition. They will compete in 19 disciplines, including athletics, badminton, 3- and 5-a-side basketball, boxing, cycling, soccer, weightlifting, handball, judo, karate, kickboxing, wrestling, swimming, rugby 7-a-side, taekwondo, table tennis, tennis, pétanque and volleyball.
The 680-strong Mauritian delegation includes 457 athletes and youth representatives, 85 coaches and trainers, 43 referees, 21 federation leaders and representatives, 24 team managers and 50 officials. These include dignitaries such as Stephan Toussaint, Minister of Empowerment, Youth, Sports and Leisure, ministry representatives, as well as officials from relevant departments, including Club Maurice, the Trust Fund for Excellence in Sports and the paramedical team.
