Mauritian boxer Bruno Julie gets the country's first Olympic medal in Beijing

For the first time in the history of sports of the island, a Mauritian will stand on the podium to receive a medal, albeit a bronze one at the Beijing Olympics. Bruno Julie, boxer in the -54 kg bantamweight category and Commonwealth champion who is taking part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics has qualified on Monday for the semi-finals after beating the Venezuelan Hector Manzanilla Rangel by points (13 - 9) at the workers' Sports stadium in the Chinese capital Beijing. "The Mauritian magician" as commentators of the BBC have called him had on Friday last eliminated the last Uzbek Hoorshid Tojibaev (16 - 4) and will box against the favourite of the bantamweight category, the Cuban Yankiel Leon Alarcon on Friday.

"Good job and big thank to you Bruno, may the force be with you for the rest (no matter what the result is), we know you'll give the best of yourself"

Le Morne on the list of world Heritage

After the insertion of the Aaapravasi Ghat (2006) - a site where the modern indenture labour diaspora began, Mauritius has another site on the unesco world heritage list - Le Morne Cultural Landscape. Le Morne is described as a rugged mountain that juts into the Indian Ocean in the southwest of Mauritius, used as a shelter by runaway slaves, maroons, through the 18th and early years of the 19th centuries. Protected by the mountain’s isolated, wooded and almost inaccessible cliffs, the escaped slaves formed small settlements in the caves and on the summit of Le Morne. The oral traditions associated with the maroons, have made Le Morne a symbol of the slaves’ fight for freedom, their suffering, and their sacrifice, all of which have relevance to the countries from which the slaves came - the African mainland, Madagascar, India, and South-east Asia. Indeed, Mauritius, an important stopover in the eastern slave trade, also came to be known as the “Maroon republic” because of the large number of escaped slaves who lived in Le Morne.

Mauritius at the 16th African Athletics Championships

Stéphan Buckland *** Jonathan Chimier

Congratulation to Stéphan Buckland (200 m - silver medal) and Jonathan Chimier (long jump - silver medal) for their performances at the 16th African Athletics Championship. Jonathan Chimier born on the 6th of August 1982 is a long jumper who won the 2004 African Athletics Championships. His personal best jump is 8.28 meters, achieved in August 2004 in Athens. He has the long jump Mauritian record. Stéphan Buckland was born on the 2oth of June1977. His story began in 1992 with his participation in the inter college championship. He started his training sessions with Jacques Lebon ans Maxime Aunet. When he improved on the national 60m record with a 7'2 s, Jacques Dudal, the technical director of national athletics, took him under his wing. After years of hard training and sacrifice, he is proud of what he has become and "has no regrets about his career."

Beautiful Sega Clip

Mauritius 40th anniversary of independence

The Flag Raising ceremony for the 40th anniversary of independence was held on Wednesday the 12th of march at the Champ de Mars in the presence of the President of the Republic, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the Prime Minister, Dr Navin Ramgoolam, the Chief Guest at the celebrations. Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, and other personalities. The theme of the celebrations, Nou Pays Nou Fierte ( Our country, Our Pride) which has been used since 2006 has continued to be used every year for the National day celebrations until 2010. A concert gathering renowned artists from Europe, Asia, Africa, the neighbouring countries as well as from Mauritius, started at 20.00 last night to run throughout the night The concert followed the traditional flag raising ceremony which started at 17.30 hrs with a Pledge to the nation by 16 Youths. This was followed by a march past by Disciplined Forces, a march past by uniformed organizations (Red Cross, Girls Guide, Fellowship first Aiders etc?) and the Flag Raising Ceremony at 18 00 hrs followed by gun salute. The last part before the popular concert was a défilé on the historical and economic evolution depicting the different stages from discovery of Mauritius to today. The concert was preceded by a spectacular firework display.

Discover Mauritius

The innate beauty and the extravagant natural make up of Mauritius has contributed to its recognition as the star of the Indian Ocean or the Paradise Island. Although primarily famous for its amazing beaches, the island nonetheless has a vast number of other breathtaking points of attraction. It has more to offer to inland as well as the south coast. Its beautiful sights combined with its climate and lifestyle converge to make Mauritius a complete destination for tourists. Interesting points of attraction across the island are within easy reach of each other ans it rarely serves like waterfalls, gorges, lakes, rivers and craters are located mostly in the south of the island. Man-made sights such as salt-pans, museums, temples, gardens are worth detour. Diverse other features, for instance monuments and historical locations commemorating important people and events are mandatory for those who love history...

Travelling to Europe without visa

In an official statement published Monday in Brussels, the European Commission let know that it asked the Members of the European Union for the opening of consultations on agreements for exemption of visa of short stay with six countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), namely Mauritius, Seychelles and four other insular Republics of the area of the Caribbean. The exemption of visas will be reciprocal, the European nationals going in these islands will not need to present a visa and conversely for the citizens of these islands travelling for Europe. According to the official statement, such an agreement should have come into effect since 2007, but Brussels had had to defer the conclusion of the negotiations, because countries of the area had required visas with Europeans at the time of the World cup of cricket, organized in the Caribbean. It will act of a reciprocal measurement of exemption of the visas, the European countries not requiring visas with the travellers coming from Mauritius and Seychelles and conversely.