TRAVEL: The delegation of Saint-Martin ready to leave for the Games of the Islands in Corsica

For the first time in its sporting history, Saint-Martin will take part in the 25^rd edition of the Games of the Islands which will take place in Corsica, from May 22 to 28, 2023.

A Saint-Martin delegation made up of athletes and supervisors will be led by the Center of Excellence and Education through Sport (CEES) of Saint-Martin and its president, Marc Gérald Ménard. A financial move supported by the Collectivity of Saint-Martin, which has just granted an exceptional grant of €72, as part of its Youth and Sport policy.

The Board of Directors and the executive office of the Center of Excellence and Education through Sport (CEES) of Saint-Martin (operational since November 1, 2022), have initiated a process for the creation of a Territorial Olympic Committee and Sportsmen (CTOS). Officially invited by the Organizing Committee for the Games of the Islands (COJI) to participate in the 2023 edition, the CCES is in full preparation for Saint-Martin's first participation in this major sporting event.

The Regional Olympic and Sports Committee of Corsica is organising, with the help of the regional sports leagues and committees, the 25th edition of the Games, which will take place in Ajaccio.

The games of the Islands are organized in turn by the members of the Organizing Committee (COJI). The COJI is a non-governmental organization whose mission is to promote through sport, the values of community life and social integration, while promoting collaboration between islands around the world and particularly young people from these territories.

Twenty-four islands, archipelagos or territories, including six overseas French continental communities, participate in it: the Azores, the Balearic Islands, the Canaries, the Cape Verde Islands, Cyprus, Corfu, Corsica, Crete, the island from Elba, the Faroe Islands, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jersey, Korčula, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, French Polynesia, Reunion, Sardinia, Sicily, Wight.

The Collectivity of Saint-Martin will be represented by 5 disciplines: athletics, basketball, football, gymnastics and tennis. The Saint-Martin delegation is made up of 57 people, including: 37 athletes aged 14 to 17, 16 senior managers, coaches, referees, a head of delegation and technicians from the Collectivity.

This delegation will have, through its sporting and cultural activity, the opportunity to represent the image and reputation of the territory, unknown to most of the other participants. It will be part of a logic of promoting the image of Saint-Martin.