From June 10 to 18, the International Olympic Academy (IOA) will conduct the 65th International Session for Young Olympic Ambassadors in Olympia, Greece, where Jana Malbrook and Dwayne Didon will represent Seychelles.
The most prominent event the IOA has hosted since its founding in 1961 is the Young Olympic Ambassadors Session. It unites young people from all over the world to foster Olympic ideals, camaraderie, and teamwork.
In front of the members of the SOCGA executive committee, Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (SOCGA) President Alain Alcindor presented the trip tickets to both athletes on Monday at the Olympic House.
Former national basketball player and current 3×3 basketball committee chair Jana Malbrook said she was thrilled about the chance. Representing Seychelles on such a global platform is a dream come true, she said, and it serves as a powerful reminder of how athletics can transform people’s lives and communities.
Jana submitted a project that was very important to her for selection: A Youth Leaders in Sports Program that aims to empower young activists to create and implement sports-based projects in their local communities. She has seen firsthand how athletics can be an effective vehicle for inclusiveness, leadership, and positive change along her trip. Jana is excited to share her vision on the Olympic stage and looks forward to developing, learning, and interacting with dynamic young leaders from around the globe.
Former Olympian and national swimmer Dwayne Didon, who was only 13 when he competed in the Beijing Olympics, is currently an executive member of the Seychelles Aquatics Federation. He attributes his achievement to perseverance, self-control, and optimism—values that continue to inform his work as a Ministry of Health scientist.
As is customary for Olympians who participate, Dwayne will have the honour of sharing his Olympian experience throughout the session. After Andrique Allisop in 2017, he will be the second Seychellois Olympian to be awarded this esteemed honour.
The IOA’s most significant program is the YOA Session. It brings together young people from around the world, aged 20 to 30, to collaborate and engage in conversations about the Olympic Movement. Participants spend two weeks immersed in a cosmopolitan and varied environment that promotes candid communication and broadens horizons.
Expert lectures, panel discussions, presentations, cultural outings, athletic and artistic events, and speeches by Olympians are all part of the program. It is anticipated that attendees will be devoted to the ideals of Olympiad, cognizant of current issues in sport, and sincerely engaged in the IOA’s educational objective.
“The Future of Sport” is this year’s subject, with a focus on “Olympic Movement and AI: Opportunities and Challenges.”
Jana and Dwayne’s involvement in this session gives them an exceptional opportunity to develop as leaders and Olympic ambassadors while honouring Seychelles internationally.
Since 1992, the Seychelles has participated in the YOA Session. Adrian Monthy, a fervent multisport enthusiast who engages in disciplines including mixed martial arts, marathon racing, and football, and football referee Estelle Barreau represented the nation last year.
