The Clean Shores Run was held in Roche Caiman, Seychelles, on 19 September. The event was organised by African Initiative with the support of the Russian diplomatic mission in the country and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Sports Minister Kelsey Belle and Russian Ambassador to Seychelles Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev took part in the race.
🔸The event was dedicated to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, as well as environmental awareness as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day. A total of 34 participants completed the 5 km course.
🔸Yannick Anacoura won the race, completing the distance in 13 minutes 30 seconds. He said he had trained for a long time ahead of the event and had also taken part in other races.
🔸Sports Minister Kelsey Belle completed the course in 20 minutes 35 seconds, finishing first among the women. She said she used to run 10 km regularly. Belle also highlighted African Initiative’s co-operation with the National Sports Council and expressed readiness to support similar events in the future.
💬“I was very glad to receive the invitation, and I’m glad that African Initiative, as the organiser of the Clean Shores Run, decided to partner with the National Sports Council. We want to facilitate and encourage as many of these events as possible, to bring the community together, to run and to be active. It’s a lifestyle, right? It has to start somewhere for you to be able to race,” she said.
🔸Russian Ambassador Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev completed the course in 21 minutes 12 seconds. After finishing, he said similar sporting events should continue to be held and suggested expanding participation by representatives of the international community and diplomatic corps. According to him, the issue had already been discussed with several colleagues.
💬“It is a great initiative, keep it up. I think we should organise more events like this. Perhaps we could involve more of the international community and the diplomatic corps, because I have discussed sport with a number of colleagues from the diplomatic corps,” the diplomat said.
🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe