Pacific Games

Players were put to the test with matches against teams from Australia, specialist coaching and intense court work.

The team’s latest report states that it was an incredible opportunity for the players to put their best foot forward and give themselves the best opportunity for selection.

With the depth of skills and talents from Tonga, Australia and New Zealand, Tonga Netball Association are proud to announce the National team for the Pacific Games in Samoa 2019 and congratulate all of the players on their selection.

About 1,000 volunteers spent five hours around town and at rivers collecting all types of rubbish that was later sorted and collated.

The collected rubbish came from Vaisigano, Loimata o Apaula, Gasegase and Fuluasou, as well as Apia town centre.

Items sorted included:

Technical Delegate Amanda Jenkins says the venue and team preparations are on track.

"It's exciting this is the time first we have qualifying pathways for this event. Any team who underestimates their opponent will be the ones who will not progress."

Jenkins is certain basketball teams from the Oceania region will be putting on their best performances to win a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers.

The Olympic Council of Asia confirmed at its General Assembly in Bangkok earlier this month that athletes from 17 Oceania nations would be eligible to compete in sports which will serve as joint Asia-Oceania qualifying events for the Olympic Games.

PGC President Vidhya Lakhan was present at the assembly where the OCA President, Sheikh Ahmad, said the next Asiad in Hangzhou, China would expand the relationship between the two regions.

Athletes from the French territory will be free to participate at next year's Pacific Games in Samoa provided an agreement for the selection of its rugby and boxing athletes is honoured.

Tahiti was suspended by the Council's General Assembly in December due to "political interference".

It followed the French Polynesian Government's decision to boycott the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu because of a dispute over which boxers and rugby sevens athletes should represent Tahiti.

A Commonwealth Games Qualifier for beach volleyball was played prior to the Mini Games in Vanuatu earlier this month, ensuring a strong field was in attendance in Port Vila.

Meanwhile the rugby sevens competition also had a World Cup qualifying spot up for grabs.

Van2017 CEO Clint Flood said further qualifying opportunities will lead to more interest at future Games.

"We would have liked to have a few more teams in football - it would have been great to have PNG here and the other teams," he said.

The PGC’s Forum held after its annual general meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu this week was to hear members on several key topics such as associate membership, bid process and management structure

The other names that were floated in general discussion that could be invited to become members of the regional games were Christmas Island, Bougainville, Easter Islands and Hawaii apart from Australia and New Zealand.

These countries could in future become associate members with certain voting rights.

The Trans-Tasman neighbours were invited to take part in four sports at the 2015 Games in Port Moresby, increasing to eight for the 2019 edition in Samoa.

Australia and New Zealand make their Mini Games debut in Port Vila this week in weightlifting, having declined to enter teams in rugby sevens.

The President of the Pacific Games Council, Vidhya Lakhan, said the participation of Australia and New Zealand would ensure the event is recognised around the world.

"Most of the continents have their own Continental Games," Lakhan said.

130 athletes from 12 countries will compete and up to 200 overseas visitors are expected in Nuku'alofa for the two-day event kicking off on Friday.

The President of the Tonga and Oceania Judo Unions, Lennie Nitt, said the hosting agreement was only signed in December and it had been a challenge for organisers to ensure 'Atele Stadium was ready for competition.

According to RNZI, the Solomons delegation includes the provincial government minister, David Tome, and the opposition leader, Jeremiah Manele.

The bid will seek votes from the 22 member countries on the Pacific Games Council.

Solomon Islands is up against French Polynesia, which lost the 2019 rights to Tonga.