Chairman's Speech - 2007
SPEECH BY DHIRAJ KHAMAJEET, CHAIRMAN MAURITIUS SPORTS COUNCIL, 2007 SPORTS AWARD
Ladies & Gentleman, at the MSC, we are very pleased to have The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance & Economic Development, Hon. Rama Sithanen, for the National Sports Awards 2007 as our Chief Guest. We all know that he is a Sport loving person and by his presence as Minister of Finance tonight, shows his dedication & commitment for the progress of Sports. We can count on your support as and when required, Sir, and we welcome you among us tonight.
Let me welcome you all for the 2007 Sports awards of the Mauritius Sports Council. You must be feeling the difference in a new set up altogether a different venue compared to last year’s award ceremony. This is the beginning of another journey and this change signifies a lot of things at the MSC: change in approach, change in the way we are managing the MSC, change in mindset, you name the changes that are currently being undertaken at the MSC. In fact we want to change the way we manage and practice sports in Mauritius and I am sure with the blessing of all our stakeholders we are sure and certain that this vision of ours will become a reality in 2008.
Today we are here again to glorify all those who have in one way or other contributed to the uplifting of sports in Mauritius in the year 2007. We are going to reward all those who have excelled in the sports discipline they practice and today it’s a great day for the sports community in Mauritius. Never ever the efforts for our handicapped friends in Handysports, in the previous Sports Awards were taken into consideration. For the NSA 2007, the MSC board has decided to reward these friends and also accept them as equal. Tonight, we do understand that not everybody will emerge as the sportsman or sportswoman of the year. But deep inside our heart we believe that all those who practice sports and all those who contribute to this aspect either through their performance and participation are real winners.
We want to give a new boost, a new direction to the sports world in Mauritius and we want to bring in high level of professionalism and more transparency in our activities as is the case in most reputed countries. Let me reassure you all here that this direction has already been adopted at the MSC. There are some people who do not see these things happening or they simply pretend to be unaware and you will agree that one cannot please everybody in the field of sports. We do not have hidden agenda and believe us we want to be more professional and we want to empower all our stakeholders with better management practices and specially for federations better conflict resolution techniques. Good performances do not happen like that and a solid management back up is important. I would like here to make an appeal to the federations to resolve their conflicts internally thereby projecting a blossoming picture to the public in general and specially to the young people of Mauritius.
And to that effect as usual, we have organized management seminars on good governance with the objective to help presidents, secretaries and members of managing committees of various sports federations to improve and enhance their managerial skills to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in their activities.
Rodrigues was not left aside in our endeavors. A series of similar activities were held in Rodrigues during the month of July & August. The MSC has also set up a sports library at the Malabar Gymnasium in collaboration with Sports Commission of Rodrigues and am happy that the Commissioner, Mr Christian Agathe is among us tonight.
Friends, this year was marked by the Indian Ocean Island Games. You will agree with me that we had some remarkable and impressive performances and we had our share of not to say deceptions but noteworthy performances. At the level of the council we organized seminars on sports psychology and doping for our selected participants in the games to better prepare them mentally to handle the competitions there in Tana, Madagascar. To boost up the morale of the athletes we also held an exhibition at the Phoenix Gymnasium to highlight the memorable events of the previous Indian Ocean Island games.
We did not forget our primary and secondary schools students this year. In fact we continued to reward good performances and we organized three Athlete of the month award (over 15 yrs) and three Athlete of the month award (under 15 yrs) in schools and colleges across Mauritius. The presence of the Minister of Education & Human Resource Development, Hon. Dharam Gokhool clearly demonstrate his commitment and interest in the development of sports at primary & secondary levels in Mauritius. Moreover the sensitization workshops on basic concepts of sports medicine by the Mauritius Sports Council were also held at the Phoenix Gymnasium and colleges across the island during the year.
We have many interesting projects for the year 2008. Some of them are ongoing while others will be innovative and altogether new projects.
The publication of the codes of ethics for athletes, coaches, officials, parents and members of sports federations are being worked out in collaboration with ICAC. I must admit that It has taken sometime but because of its complexities we preferred to go slowly but surely. Another interesting publication in the coming month will be the swimming manual.
Ladies & Gentleman, it is a fact today that we need to encourage all Mauritians to practice sports. Following our participation and experience gathered in the TAFISA conference in Argentina in September, our community based sports for all development programme has been revalorized with new ideas and the first edition will be launched in February 2008. The emphasis will be laid much on participation than competition.
In 2008 we would be embarking on an important project which we have negotiated with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa. We intend to launch a Diploma in Sports Management with the aim to empower all those wishing to join the management team of federations, associations, clubs and others. In fact it will also be an opportunity for practicing sportspersons to follow such a course to enhance their understanding of managing a sports organization. All going well the first batch of students will be able to undertake their studies as from August 2008. We believe that bringing university education in the field of sports will definitely help the sports sector to grow properly.
Along with the educational project, the sports research program is underway in collaboration with the Mauritius Research Council. We have not yet developed a proper framework for undertaking research in the field of sports and we are convinced that research will help us identify the major problem areas and this in turn will help us devise better policies for our future directions.
For all these projects I just mentioned at the level of the MSC to happen we require a new mindset, a new structural approach to the functioning of the Council. I can assert now that the perception of tagging the MSC as a cheque book is behind us now. With the support of my Board Members and the staff we have adopted novel ways of getting things done at the MSC. We are putting in place a quality management system. All this I mentioned it earlier with a view to manage the MSC with more professionalism and transparency. In this connection, I am proud to announce here that The MSC will be ISO 9001:2000 certified next year. This shows our dedication and commitment to provide a better quality service to all our stakeholders.
I would like at this stage thank all the organizations who have shown their willingness to purchase the advertising spaces in our different sports infrastructure. In fact with the limited budget of the MSC all the projects we have in mind will not become a reality. The major chunk of the MSC budget goes in salary and a part of it to sports federations. We are trying to consider opportunities to take advantage of new sources of revenue. After our marketing presentation to Advertising & Marketing Agencies at Saint Georges Hotel in November we are getting positive signals from companies and I take this opportunity to request more companies to contact us for their advertising and publicity frames to be used in our strategic spaces on our sports sites. Tapping these new sources of funds will definitely help the MSC to manage properly and with more autonomy.
Ladies & Gentleman, to continue in our mission, we get the tremendous support of our sponsors, and I would like to thank them here;
Our Main Co-sponsors of this night
# The Mauritius Commercial Bank
# The Mauritius Duty Free Paradise
Our Sponsors
@ Airports of Mauritius for the 2nd consecutive year
@ State Bank of Mauritius for supporting us regularly
@ State Informatics Ltd for the 2nd consecutive year
@ Ciel Group for supporting us this year
@ Milo / Nestle for your continuous support; for the NSA and also the Young athletes Award (under 15)
@ Padco; as your logo says “Zoli travaille”
@ Radio One for being the exclusive radio for NSA 2007
@ Le Meridien Hotel for Hosting & supporting the NSA 2007
# Allsports for supporting us for the Young Athletes Award (over 15yrs)
# IBL Healthcare for helping us a lot for the Sports Medicine Project
I have also a special thank for the Director General of the MBC, Mr Bijaye Madhoo and the sport department, for the attention he gives to sports and the facilities put at our disposal for the NSA specially in the making of the 50 clips to be projected tonight. Thanks also for broadcasting this award night live on MBC 3.
How to forget this excellent team of lecturers on Sport Medicine ; thank you
· Mr Gerard Requin
· Dr Oomar
· Dr Khadaroo
· Mme Gowreesungkur, Nutritionist
· Mr Michel Chan Kye – also board member of MSC
· Mr Toolsee & Mr Chuttoo for the seminar on Finance
· Mr Bungsy & Mr Khemil Gobin for seminar on good governance
· Jacques Malie for management seminars
· The Director of ICAC for anticorruption messages
· The Director of MRC for the Sports Research Program
The Higher Committee for the difficult task carried out for the list of nominees (1) Mr Harold Munsoo (2) Mr Dev Auchaybar (3) Mr Giandeo Moteea (4) Mr Judex Lefou (5) Mr Ronnie Ng (6) Mr Jacques Mallie (7) Mr Jean Luc Balancy
Last but not least, allow me to thank my board members (1) Mrs Sheila Desha (2) Mrs Cathy Foo Kune (3) Mr Diny Sitaramboo (4) Mr Ashley Mocude (5) Mr Jeeawoody (6) Mr Hedley Rotasse (7) Mr Noorani Kootbally (8) Mr Michel Chan Kye (9) Mr Ashish Jooreea , for their unflinching support in our decisions for the advancement of the council.
Special mention for the hardworking staff of The Mauritius Sports Council under the good guidance of the Managing Secretary, Mr Rajen Descann.
Finally, I thank the Minister of Youth & Sports, Hon. Sylvio Tang for his kind attention, views and advice whenever needed.
With these words ladies and gentlemen allow me to thank you for your kind attention and have a pleasant award night.