Pacific Games

The students braved intermittent rain to perform anthems and traditional dances from French Polynesia, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia as the flags of those countries were raised on the lawns of Falefono.

Sene Palepua, the vice principal of Maile Primary School that represented Palau at the ceremony, said her 445 students rose to the challenge of learning Palau’s national anthem, despite its unfamiliar words and sounds.

Torch Relay Coordinator, Tafaese Spencer Tautu from the Ministry of Education Sports (MESC), believes there is great significance in the torch as Samoa prepares to host the Games.

“There is power in the torch that can mend bridges and bring different villages to ignite under the slogan of the Games and that is ‘one in spirit,’ he said. “I never imagined this would be the response of the people. This is the first time the Head of State has received the torch baton twice, first at his home at Falelatai and, again, yesterday at his residence in Vailele.”

Toea Wisil recently went viral with her Facebook post when she called out APNG and president Tony Green for intimidating athletes into submission as well as feeding them biscuits, especially during the Oceania Championships held in Cairns (June 24-28) in a post titled “Not Keeping it Quiet”.

“Athletes been eating Snax biscuits for breakfast and lunch before coming to Oceania and hungry while here. I am putting it out for the people to know what is going on in our sports.”

Meet the Athletes is a series by Pacific Media Network that hears from some of the competitors heading to the games.

"Taekwondo is more than just martial arts, you learn to control yourself, you learn how to overcome struggles and hardships," said Master Paul Sipata, who will be representing Tonga.

Sipata adds it was because of his height, he was encouraged to take up the sport in the first place.

“I got bullied a lot because of my size. For rugby, I wasn’t the type of physicality that was required.”

King Tupou VI has donated nearly $US9000 to help the country's athletes get to the Pacific Games in Samoa next month.

Former Noble MP Lord Vaea, who is the King's brother-in-law, has also pledged to match the donation.

The moves come after the King visited the team and was told they were short of funds.

In 2017, Tonga belatedly pulled out of hosting the games, with the government and Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva expressing fear the country would accumulate too much debt.

Speaking to the female sports journalist participants, Nynette Sass took the advantage to discuss any queries about the regional event.

“Samoa is ready to host the games and we are on to the final stages of preparing every place reserved for the games and we are glad to hosting this year’s Pacific Games,” Sass said.

She also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in any aspects of the Games.

Team Samoa Chef de Mission, Nynette Sass says athletes will check out from their place of accommodation after completing their events.

“The first wave of athletes checking in and it depends on the sports schedule for first week and second week. So those competing in the first week will come in and check in and do the competition and then check out and then next wave comes in.”

“So in that way we don’t get to overload the system too much,” she said.

Meet the Athlete is a series by Pacific Media Network - hearing from some of the athletes heading to the Games in Samoa.

Born in New Zealand and raised by a single mother, along with four other siblings, Sione Maama worked his way towards representing Tonga, using lessons learnt from the struggles and determination of his mother.

"As you grow older, you begin to appreciate how hard she worked and how much she had to go through so that we were raised right."

To have the students carry the baton brought the communities together in unison, manifesting the slogan of the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games, “one in spirit.” 

The Savai'i leg of the relay will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday before coming to Upolu.

People of all ages flooded the streets as the torch baton for the Games made its way through and the event was live-streamed on Facebook.

Speaking at the ceremony yesterday Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Malielegaoi thanked China saying the building of the Multi-Sport Centre aligns with the government's vision to grow Faleata as the sports hub of Samoa and the Pacific region.

The Multi-Sport Centre consists of two state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor netball courts built to international specifications. It also has the capacity to host badminton, basketball, table tennis, boxing and other indoor sports.