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Spectacular Seychelles stuns golfers yet again for the second edition of the MCB Tour Championship

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Seychelles could not have been more magnificent as the country held the 3-day competition of the second edition of the MCB Tour Championship at the Constance Lemuria on Praslin.

The competition, which closed on Saturday, December 7, saw the participation of 48 golfers from 16 different nationalities.

After an interesting Pro-Am event on Wednesday December 4, where the celebrity golfers played alongside Seychelles local golfers, they teed off for some serious business on Thursday December 5, under a perfectly sunny day.

Aside from the picture-perfect weather, Seychelles did not fail on providing the best play conditions for the golfers as they enjoyed a flawless course manned meticulously by the Constance Lemuria team under the supervision of Gary Pouponneau.

Seychelles, pristine paradise is an amazing archipelago in the Indian Ocean formed of 115 islands and is home to a beautifully diverse creole population. 

The country’s strong actions and constant avant-garde stands as a conservation pioneer in the region and around the world is also part of its renown.

Speaking at the tournament, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive Mrs. Sherin Francis commented on her absolute pleasure to have witnessed a successful second edition of the MCB Tour Championship in Seychelles.

She commended the organizers and the various sponsors including MCB Seychelles, Constance Lemuria, Staysure Tour, ISPC Seychelles, Hugo Boss, Cat Cocos, Takamaka Rum and Seybrew for their efforts.

Mrs. Francis mentioned that this second edition was definitely to place the destination in perspective as a place where nature prevails above all.    

“We keep on hearing amazing comments about the golf course, the views specially the one up Tee 15 which looks down to Anse Georgette is spectacular, this is definitely the kind of the images we want people to see as it shows  that our destination is truly another world of amazing fauna and flora,” said Mrs. Francis 

Mrs. Francis further mentioned that as part of its marketing strategy, the STB supports various national and international events throughout the year to increase the destination’s visibility.

While the first round ended with Gary Orr heading the scoreboards, recording an opening round of 64, six under par.

The second day saw the rise of South African, James Kingston at the head of the scoreboards, who carded a four under par round of 66.

The third competition day saw the crowning of Australian Peter Fowler who after three days of competition made it up the scoreboards.

MCB Group CEO Mr. Pierre Guy Noel and Deputy CEO Mr. Raoul Gufflet presented the MCB Tour Championship Seychelles trophy alongside Seychelles minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Mr. Didier Dogley.

The prize giving ceremony was conducted in the presence of Bruno Le Gac, General Manager for Lemuria; Mrs. Sherin Francis STB Chief Executive; Mark Aspland, Head of the Staysure Tour European Tour; Bernard Jackson, MCB Seychelles Managing Director; Captain Guy Adam Chairperson for Constance Seychelles and Jean-Jacques Vallet, CEO Constance Hotels Resorts and Golf.

Speaking about his victory on the Constance Lemuria course today, Fowler mentioned that this third day of the competition has been favorable to him as he started on a good start, which helped in his scores.

“It is absolutely great to be back in the Seychelles, I have been swimming and doing my exercises outdoors every day, I am looking forward to coming back in 2020,” said Fowler.

The tournament also received the support of local destination management companies Mason’s Travel, Creole Travel Services, 7 Degree South and Summer Rain Tours.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel  www.seychelles.travel

MCB Tour Championship in Seychelles starts off with Pro-Am Competition

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Following its first leg from Madagascar, the MCB Tour Championship 2019 continues its journey in the Seychelles at Constance Lemuria, Praslin.

The well anticipated competition leg of the Indian Ocean swing will be held on our shores from Thursday December 5, 2019 to Saturday December 7, 2019. 

Warming up for the big day, the 48 professionals golfers have gone around the 18-hole golf course consisting of the Lemuria property which spans over an area of 5,580 metres, teaming up with Seychellois residents for the Pro-Am competition. 

It is under a perfect paradise sun that the day took off with the first tee at 11am, which 24 joyful foursomes, playing under the flag of the various sponsors to the Seychelles MCB Tour Championship event, made their way to the course for 5 hours play approximately.

Last year’s Seychelles winner Roger Chapman teed at the first hole alongside Dominique Bastienne both playing under the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) flag, against Clark Dennis and Captain Guy Adam representing the Constance Hotels and Resorts. 

Present on the course to support the golfers, the STB Chief Executive Mrs. Sherin Francis mentioned her satisfaction to see the MCB Tour Championship in Seychelles starting off on such a great note. 

“It warms the heart to see that last year’s MCB Tour Championship has created so many beautiful ties. It is definite that professional golfers and amateurs have been looking forward to playing together again.  I believe that the Pro-Am sessions is a great platform for our local golfers to gather the exposure and experience required to improve themselves, “said Mrs. Francis.

At the end of the Pro-Am competition round this Wednesday afternoon, team ISPC including Philip Golding and Jonathan Paul came in first place, scoring -14 points, the runners up were Tim Thelen and Eddie Micock flying the STB Flag with -13 points and were followed by the competition venue host team Constance Hotels and Resorts, represented by Clark Dennis and Captain Guy Adam with -11points.

This year’s competition also saw the remarkable performances of Damien Hoareau and Bridget Weaver as best performers for the Longest Drive Men and Ladies respectively and finally Axel Andrade as best performer on the Nearest the Pin. 

She further commented that this year’s coverage on the Staysure Tour network of the MCB Tour Championship in Seychelles will definitely add on to the destination’s visibility as it places the Constance Lemuria Golf course on the global platform as one of the beautiful in the region.

The best performers were crowned at a special event at the Takamaka Beach Bar at Anse Kerlan.

The MCB Tour Championship in the Seychelles is sponsored by Seychelles Tourism Board, MCB Seychelles, Constance Lemuria, Staysure Tour, ISPC Seychelles, Hugo Boss, Cat Cocos, Takamaka Rum and Seybrew. The tournament, also received the support of local destination management companies Mason’s Travel, Creole Travel Services, 7 Degree South and Summer Rain Tours.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel  www.seychelles.travel

Seychelles to welcome second leg of the MCB Tour Championship Indian Ocean Swing

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The land of the Coco-de-Mer – Seychelles – will be featured as the second leg of a three-destination competition for the second edition of the destination’s participation at the prestigious regional golf competition, the MCB Tour Championship.

Set to start on Friday, November 29, 2019, to Sunday, December 1, 2019, in Antanarivo in Madagascar, the competition will be returning for a second time to Constance Lemuria on the island of Praslin in Seychelles from Thursday December 5, 2019 to Saturday December 7, 2019.  The season finale will be taking place at Constance Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius from Friday December 13, 2019 to Sunday December 15, 2019.

Forty-eight players including the defending Champion Roger Chapman, his counterparts Clark Dennis and Paul McGinley and other golf celebrities are expected to tee off the Constance Lemuria par-70, 18-hole golf course that spans over an area of 5,580 meters on Thursday December 5, 2019 for 3 days of intense competition in Seychelles.

The Pro-Am, which will be played on Wednesday December 4, 2019, will be composed of 48 teams, each comprising of 1 Professional golfer and 1 Seychelles resident amateur including junior players and lady golfers.

The PRO-AM competition will see the first three teams (net) win prizes and there will also be competitions for the Longest Drive (men), Longest Drive (ladies) and the Nearest-the-Pin.

Speaking about the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis, expressed her satisfaction that the event has contributed considerably in providing visibility to the destination especially Praslin.

“Since we opened our shores to the MCB Tour Championship last year, it is clear that the visibility received by the destination was worldwide. Our partnership in the event is even more justified today as we see the increase in the number of players for the event implying that the interest for our destination has also increased. We are looking forward to a successful event in Seychelles,” said Mrs. Francis.

She also mentioned that being part of the event is part of STB’s marketing strategies to increase the destination’s visibility and promoting Seychelles as a sports destination.

Mrs. Francis further expressed her profound gratitude to all the local sponsors.

Aside from the title sponsor MCB Seychelles and Constance Lemuria, the MCB Tour Championship is being supported with contributions from the Staysure Tour, the STB, ISPC Seychelles, Hugo Boss, Cat Cocos, Takamaka Rum, and Seybrew, who are actively working towards making the second edition of the golf tournament in Seychelles an enormous success.

Mr. Bernard Jackson, Managing Director, MCB (Seychelles) said: “For the second year running, Seychelles is thrilled to host the pro golfers competing in the European Senior Tour. We celebrate our renewed international visibility on the golfing scene and are delighted that this year Madagascar also gets its share of the limelight with its inclusion in the tour alongside Mauritius and Seychelles. I thank The Seychelles Tourism Board and all the contributing partners for making this event a resounding success”.

Adding to the prestige of Seychelles’ leg is the breath-taking view of the white sandy beach of Anse Georgette, which will not fail to capture the player’s attention.

In view of the safety and security requirements, members of the local organizing committee will be asking for the cooperation of members of the public to refrain from using the footpath accessing to the Anse.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel  www.seychelles.travel

Russia to use Fan-IDs (again) as visas for 2020 UEFA Euro Cup visitors

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Upper house of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, have passed on Monday a bill allowing foreign tourists with Fan-IDs to travel to Russia without entry visas for matches of the 2020 UEFA Euro Cup.

Last week, the bill was passed in the third and final reading by lawmakers from the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house, and following today’s approval by the senators, it must be signed into law by the Russian president.

“Within the period, which begins 14 days prior to the first match of the 2020 UEFA Euro Cup in Saint Petersburg and ends on the day of the last match [in St. Petersburg], the entrance to Russia for foreign citizens and stateless persons, who come to Russia to watch 2020 UEFA Euro Cup matches, will not require issuance of visas based on identification documents,” according to the explanatory note.

Addressing a government’s session in mid-March, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that the country planned “to employ the same mechanism we used in the past regarding the issuance and operational rules of Fan-IDs.”

Russia came up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with an innovation, which was the so-called Fan-ID and was required for all ticketholders. This innovation was successfully tested during the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia and earned high marks from the world’s governing football body of FIFA.

The Fan-ID played an important security role during the major football tournament in Russia as it granted admittance to the stadiums and also served as visa for foreign visitors to enter the country.

A Fan-ID holder was allowed to enter the country without having a Russian visa and stay for the duration of the global football tournament. Fan-IDs were obligatory, in addition to purchased tickets, in order to attend matches of the 2018 World Cup tournament in Russia.

2020 UEFA Euro Cup

The matches of the 2020 Euro Cup will be held at stadiums in 12 different cities across Europe, namely in London (England), Munich (Germany), Rome (Italy), Baku (Azerbaijan), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Bucharest (Romania), Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Dublin (Ireland), Bilbao (Spain), Budapest (Hungary), Glasgow (Scotland) and Copenhagen (Denmark).

Russia’s second largest city of St. Petersburg was granted the right to host three group stage matches and one of the quarterfinals of the 2020 UEFA Euro Cup.

The decision to hold the 2020 Euro Cup, which will be celebrating its 60th anniversary that year, in various European countries instead of in one or two hosting countries was made at the UEFA Executive Committee’s meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on December 6, 2012.

A total of 24 national football teams will be playing in the final tournament of the 2020 Euro Cup. All 55 UEFA national member teams, including 12 teams from the hosting countries, will have to play in the qualifying matches to vie for the berth in the final 24-team lineup of the quadrennial European football championship.

It is possible that some of the national teams from the hosting countries of the 2020 Euro Cup will not be playing on home soil in case they fail to clear the qualifying stage.

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