Indian Ocean Island Games 2027: Constructive Meeting Held in Mauritius to Strengthen Regional Cooperation
20/02/2026
The Mauritius Olympic Committee (MOC) organised, on Friday 27 March, at the United Docks Business Park, Caudan Waterfront, a memorable evening marking the graduation ceremony of the 12th cohort of the Advanced Sports Management Course (ASMC), as well as the official launch of the Alumni Network.
The event brought together participants from ASMC cohorts 1 through 12, celebrating more than a decade of excellence in sports management training in Mauritius.
The highlight of the evening was the official presentation of certificates to the ASMC 12 graduates, symbolising both the culmination of their journey and the strengthening of the Mauritian sporting movement’s network. The new cohort, ASMC 13, was also officially welcomed, marking the beginning of a new training cycle.
In his address, MOC President Richard Papie expressed his deep gratitude towards his predecessor, Philippe Hao Thyn Voon, the initiator of the ASMC project: “. The ASMC Alumni represents a powerful force for our Olympic Movement and has my full support as well as that of the Committee.” He noted that the MOC 2.0 concept is built on transformation and innovation, mobilising talents, skills and resources in the service of sport. He further highlighted that while the ASMC has trained hundreds of sports administrators across Africa and the world, few countries have succeeded in structuring this knowledge into a national network. “With the Alumni, Mauritius joins this global movement and positions itself as a regional pioneer in governance and innovation, capable of becoming a model for Africa. The Alumni is not merely a group of graduates; it is a strategic partner in the development of sport in Mauritius. Your experience is a bridge between global best practices and their local implementation.”
MOC Secretary General, Aarti Gulrajani-Desscann, commended the dedication and determination of the graduates: “This evening is an important moment for Mauritian sport. It celebrates not only the achievements of the graduates, but also the MOC’s continued commitment to developing leaders capable of advancing our sporting movement.” She also highlighted the significance of this first intergenerational gathering between the various ASMC cohorts, illustrating the strength and continuity of the programme.
Programme Director Sanjaye Goboodun recalled that this initiative, launched in 2009, plays a key role in strengthening leadership and governance in sport: “The ASMC has created a true pool of human talent that we wish to make available to Mauritian federations in order to foster the emergence of a new generation of leaders.” He emphasised the need to translate acquired knowledge into concrete actions and to maintain the engagement of graduates within the Olympic movement.
During the evening, former badminton player Sahir Edoo, now Head of Development Projects at the Badminton World Federation, delivered a video message sharing his experience: “The knowledge I gained during my ASMC training was instrumental in my growth in sport at the international level.”
Nundkishor Fakun, Advisor to the MOC President and a member of the very first cohort, was the most senior graduate present, a symbol of the programme’s longevity and evolution.
The evening concluded with a networking session, fostering exchanges between former and new graduates in a spirit of collaboration and development in the service of Mauritian sport.