Medalists: Samoa, Polynesie Francaise, Nouvelle Caledonie, Fiji

samoa

athletics: women's discus throw - margaret satupai - silver - 50.94m
athletics: men's 800m - iulio lafai - bronze - 1:59.14
athletics: men's shot put - shaka sola - silver - 16.16m
athletics: women's shot put - margaret satupai - silver - 14.52m
boxing: Bantam Weight Class - sanele sinapapa - silver
boxing: heavy weight class - titoa mathew - bronze
boxing: light weight class - auapaau vili - bronze
boxing: light welter weight class - LIVAI Inoma Faasala - silver
boxing: middle weight class - FATA KALEPI Afaese Hugo - gold
boxing: welter weight class - FONOTI-TUPUTOA Michael Agavaa - bronze
golf: men's team event - Malase Maifea, Niko Palamo, Patrick Fepuleai & Van Wright - silver - 853
golf: men's individual - patrick fepuleai - silver - 279
golf: women's individual - Leleaga Meredith - bronze - 299
golf: women's team event - Bronwyn Tavita-Sesega, Leleaga Meredith, Olive Auva'a & Senetima Leavaiseeta - silver - 940
lawn bowls: men's pairs - Lead: Valo Pritchard Skip: Petero Hans Gabriel - bronze
lawn bowls: men's triples - Kironi Ueligitone Oti SOLIALOFI Namulauulu Olopoto - silver
lawn bowls: men's singles - Varo Pritchard - bronze
lawn bowls: ladies fours - bronze
rugby 7s: men's rugby 7s - gold
rugby league 7s: men's rugby league 7s team - bronze
sailing: Laser Radial Team - Mabelle Humrich & Olivia Hogarth - silver
sailing: laser standard team - Samuel Hogarth & Shannon Humrich - silver
squash: men's team event - van Ah Liki Chad Rankin Michael Kapisi Dean Sefo Norman Wetzell - bronze
squash: women's team event - Samantha Manu Alyson Sefo Lucy Thompson Lupe Sefo Peka Sialaoa - silver
squash: women's singles - lucy thompson - bronze
tennis: men's team event - bronze
tennis: men's team event - bronze
tennis: men's doubles - Leon Soonalole & Marvin Soonalole - bronze
tennis: men's singles - Leon Soonalole - bronze
tennis: mix doubles - Marvin Soónalole & Tagifano Soónalole-Taosoga - silver
tennis: mix doubles - Leon Soónalole & Maylani Ah Hoy - bronze
tennis: women's doubles - Maylani Ah Hoy & Tagifano Soónalole-Taosonga - bronze
touch: men's team event - bronze
touch: women's team event - gold
weightlifting: Men's 77kg clean & jerk - Faavae Faauliuli - silver - 161kg
weightlifting: Men's 77kg snatch - Faavae Faauliuli - gold - 126kg
weightlifting: Men's 77kg total - Faavae Faauliuli - silver - 287kg
weightlifting: Women's 69kg clean & jerk - Tauimani Ah Kuoi - gold - 98kg
weightlifting: Women's 69kg snatch - Tauimani Ah Kuoi - gold - 68kg
weightlifting: Women's 69kg total - Tauimani Ah Kuoi - gold - 166kg
weightlifting: Women's 69kg total - Hapilyn Iro - silver - 147kg
weightlifting: Women's 75kg clean & jerk - Mary Opeloge - gold - 105kg
weightlifting: Women's 75kg snatch - Mary Opeloge - gold - 87kg
weightlifting: Women's 75kg total - Mary Opeloge - gold - 192kg
weightlifting: Men's 105kg clean & jerk - Tovia Opeloge - bronze - 161kg
weightlifting: Men's 105kg snatch - Tovia Opeloge - bronze - 130kg
weightlifting: Men's 105kg total - Tovia Opeloge - bronze - 291kg
weightlifting: Men's 94kg clean & jerk - Jonathan Yoshida - bronze - 160kg
weightlifting: Men's 94kg snatch - Jonathan Yoshida - bronze - 125g
weightlifting: Men's 94kg total - Jonathan Yoshida - bronze - 285kg
weightlifting: Women's +75kg clean & jerk - Ele Opeloge - gold - 150kg
weightlifting: Women's +75kg snatch - Ele Opeloge - gold - 125kg (GR)
weightlifting: Women's +75kg total - Ele Opeloge - gold - 275kg
weightlifting: Women's 63kg clean & jerk - Faitoa Togagae - gold - 96kg
weightlifting: Women's 63kg snatch - Faitoa Togagae - gold - 70kg
weightlifting: Women's 63kg total - Faitoa Togagae - gold - 166kg

tahiti

athletics: Mens 3000m Steeplechase - Tupu** Tahi - silver - 10:14.35
athletics: Womens Javelin Throw - Teuruerani Tanepau - bronze - 45.24m
athletics: Men's 10000m - Georges Richmond - silver - 33:27.84
athletics: Women's 800m - Astrid Montuclard - silver - 2:19.82
athletics: Women's High Jump - Johanna Sui - gold - 1.62m
athletics: Women's High Jump - Terani Faremiro - silver - 1.62m
athletics: Women's High Jump - Oceane LeFranc - bronze - 1.53m
athletics: Men's 400m - Joselyn Muntaner - silver - 49.68sec
athletics: Men's Long Jump - Raihau Maiau - silver - 7.45m
athletics: Men's 5000m - Georges Richmond - silver - 16:07.22
athletics: Men's 5000m - Francky Maraetaata - bronze - 16:25.65
athletics: Men's High Jump - Raihau Maiau - silver - 1.92m
athletics: Men's Octathlon - Yoann Barff - silver - 4138
athletics: Women's 100m Hurdles - Terani Faremiro - gold - 15.14sec
athletics: Women's 100m Hurdles - Johanna Sui - bronze - 15.52sec
athletics: Women's 1500m - Astrid Montuclard - silver - 5:05.92
athletics: Women's Heptathlon - Terano Faremiro - silver - 4723
athletics: Women's Heptathlon - Johanna Sui - bronze - 4258
athletics: Women's Triple Jump - Terani Faremiro - gold - 11.58m
athletics: Men's 400m Hurdles - Jocelyn Muntaner - bronze - 57.64sec
athletics: Men's Discus Throw - Miatoa Rooarii Pito - silver - 46.46m
athletics: Men's Half Marathon - Georges Richmond - gold - 1:14:01.52
athletics: Men's Half Marathon - Francky Maraetaata - silver - 1:14.55.73
athletics: Men's Triple Jump - Raihau Maiau - bronze - 13.96m
athletics: Women's 400m Hurdles - Oceane LeFranc - silver - 65.90sec
athletics: Women's Half Marathon - Valérie Bechennec - bronze - 1:38:21.26
athletics: Women's Long Jump - Terani Faremiro - gold - 5.62m
athletics: Women's Long Jump - Johanna Sui - bronze - 5.51m
boxing: Bantam Weight Class - TUIHAA Jason Marunui - gold
boxing: Feather Weight Class - BOSSUET Vatea Pierre-Olivier Eric - silver
boxing: Heavy Weight Class - MAHANORA Richardet Emilton - gold
boxing: Light Heavy Weight Class - TAAROA Puaiura Tera Erickson - silver
boxing: Light Weight Class - ROBSON Joseph Tehaamaru - bronze
boxing: Light Welter Weight Class - ALBERTINI Jean-Louis Ariihau - gold
boxing: Middle Weight Class - MAHANORA Marian Vaihau - bronze
boxing: Super Heavy Weight Class - NENA Tafai Joseph - gold
boxing: Welter Weight Class - TEMAI**AHIO Albert - silver
golf: Women's Team Event - Yvonne Chave, Coraline Petras, Moea Nouveau & Vaiana Tehaamatai - bronze - 953
sailing: laser standard - Jessee Besson - gold
table tennis: Men's Doubles - O. Belrose & T. Klouman - bronze
table tennis: Men's singles - Océan Belrose - bronze
table tennis: Women's doubles - B. Lui & T. Thuont - silver
table tennis: Men's Team Event - Ocean Belrose, Kenji Morin & Tinihau-O-Terai Klouman - silver
table tennis: Mix Doubles - T. Klouman / T. Thunot - gold
table tennis: Women's Team Event - Taurikirau Thunot, Alize Vaihiria Gaumet & Brenda Lui - bronze
tennis: Men's Doubles - Patrice Cotti & Raiarii Yan - silver
tennis: Men's Singles - Gilles De Gouy - silver
Triathlon: Men's Individual - Laurent BARRA - silver - Swim - 0:22:48 / Cycle - 1:06:43 / Run - 0:38:27 / Total: 2:08:31
Triathlon: Team Event - Laurent BARRA, François HERMIER & Yasmina KADRI ep CHENEL - silver - 6:56:27
Va'a: Men V1 500m - Manatea Bopp Dupont - gold - 2.19.30
Va'a: Men V6 1500m - gold - 7:44.60
Va'a: Men V6 500m - gold - 1.49.60
Va'a: Woman V1 500m - Hinatea Bernadino - gold - 2.34.54
Va'a: Woman V6 1500M - gold - 9.13.28
Va'a: Woman V6 500m - gold - 2.20.92
Va'a: Men V1 15km - Teva Rete Ebb - gold - 1.19.50
Va'a: Men's V6 30KM Marathon - gold - 2.12.06
Va'a: Woman V1 10km - Hinatea Bernadino - gold - 1.01.28
Va'a: Woman V6 20KM Marathon - gold - 1.43.28

new caledonia

athletics: Womens 5000m Run - Anne Beaufils - bronze - 20:20.63
athletics: Womens Javelin Throw - Bina Ramesh - gold - 47.66m
athletics: Womens Javelin Throw - Astrid Waheo - silver - 47.48m
athletics: Men's 10000m - Cedric Oblet - bronze - 33:35.56
athletics: Women's Hammer Throw - Elise Takosi - silver - 49.80m
athletics: Women's Hammer Throw - Bina Ramesh - bronze - 42.57m
athletics: Men's 1500m - Cedric Oblet - gold - 4:11.17
athletics: Men's Hammer Throw - Erwan Cassier - gold - 56.38m
athletics: Men's Hammer Throw - Petelo Toto - silver - 50.74m
athletics: Men's Javelin - Mathieu Roulet - silver - 63.32m
athletics: Men's Long Jump - Frederic Erin - gold - 7.74m
athletics: Women's 10000m - Josiane Chipeaux - gold - 41:24.10
athletics: Men's 110m Hurdles - Xavier Fenuafanote - bronze - 15.36sec
athletics: Men's 5000m - Cedric Oblet - gold - 15:53.92
athletics: Men's High Jump - Yorick Metzdorf - gold - 1.95m
athletics: Men's Shot Put - Daniel Kilama - gold - 16.17m
athletics: Men's Discus Throw - Daniel Kilama - gold - 46.57m
athletics: Men's Discus Throw - Erwan Cassier - bronze - 45.68m
athletics: Men's Triple Jump - Frederic Erin - gold - 16.03m
athletics: Men's Triple Jump - Kainric Ozoux - silver - 14.10m
athletics: Women's Half Marathon - Josiane Chipeaux - gold - 1:29:24.65
athletics: Women's Half Marathon - Anne Beaufils - silver - 1:36:37.93
boxing: Heavy Weight Class - TERRAT Olivier - bronze
boxing: Light Weight Class - ATHALAE Gyan - gold
boxing: Light Welter Weight Class - MARTOREDJO Nicholas - bronze
boxing: Super Heavy Weight Class - TUISAMOA Jean - bronze
golf: Women's Individual - Charlotte Navarro - silver - 296
sailing: Hobie 16 - Rudolf Chichemanian & Tracy Rolland - gold
sailing: Hobie 16 Team - Rudolf Chichemanian & Tracy Rolland, Enrick Obert & Francois Planchon - gold
sailing: Laser Radial - Gaela Machal - silver
sailing: Laser Radial Team - Gaela Machal only - bronze
squash: Men's Team Event - Laurent Guepy Fabian Dihn Bastien Caisso Romain Caisso Sebastien Michaux - gold
squash: Womena's Team Event - Marie Pierre Leca Vanessa Quach Jennyfer Corigliano Sylvaine Durand - bronze
squash: Men's Singles - Laurent Guepy - silver
squash: Men's Singles - Bastien Caisso - bronze
squash: Women's Singles - Marie-Pierre LECA - silver
table tennis: Men's Team Event - Jeremy Dey, Stephane Gilabert & Fabien Laivan - bronze
tennis: Men's Team Event - gold
tennis: Women's Team Event - gold
tennis: Men's Doubles - Guillaunc Monot & Nickolas N'Godrela - gold
tennis: Men's Singles - Nickolas N'Godrela - gold
tennis: Mix Doubles - Nickolas N'Godrela & Elodie Dietrich-Rogge - gold
tennis: Women's Doubles - Elodie Dietrich-Rogge & Meryl Pydo - silver
tennis: Women's Singles - Elodie Dietrich-Rogge - silver
triathlon: Men's Individual - David ESPOSITO - gold - Swim - 0:23:39 / Cycle - 1:05:10 / Run - 0:37:18 / Total: 2:06:39
triathlon: Men's individual - Aymeric LEVASSEUR - bronze - Swim - 0:24:50 / Cycle - 1:05:52 / Run - 0:38:03 / Total: 2:09:18
triathlon: Team Event - David ESPOSITO, Laurent BARRA & Erika ELLIS - gold - 6:40:42
triathlon: Women's Indivual - Erika ELLIS - gold - Swim - 0:29:52 / Cycle - 1:13:51 / Run - 0:40:27 / Total: 2:24:45
triathlon: Women's Indivual - Catherine GRANGEON - silver - Swim - 0:22:54 / Cycle - 1:18:33 / Run - 0:45:46 / Total: 2:28:35
triathlon: Women's Indivual - Kandy POINT - bronze - Swim - 0:24:28 / Cycle - 1:20:10 / Run - 0:45:47 / Total: 2:31:37
va'a: Men V1 500m - Christophe Tuluari - silver - 2.22.28
va'a: Men V6 1500m - silver - 7:46.36
va'a: Men V6 500m - silver - 1.52.25
va'a: Woman V1 500m - Elsa Pauga - bronze - 2.47.64
va'a: Woman V6 500m - bronze - 2.24.09
va'a: Men V1 15km - Noel Kevin - bronze - 1.22.30
va'a: Men's V6 30KM Marathon - silver - 2.16.27
va'a: Woman V1 10km - Rosemelle Terii - silver - 1.03.30
va'a: Woman V6 20KM Marathon - bronze - 1.47.28
weightlifting: Men's 85kg snatch - Igor Lagikula - bronze - 101kg
weightlifting: Men's 105kg clean & jerk - Amete Luaki - silver - 166kg
weightlifting: Men's 105kg snatch - Amete Luaki - silver - 137kg
weightlifting: Men's 105kg total - Amete Luaki - silver - 303kg
weightlifting: Women's +75kg clean & jerk - Noeline Luaki - bronze - 75kg
weightlifting: Women's +75kg snatch - Noeline Luaki - bronze - 62kg
weightlifting: Women's +75kg total - Noeline Luaki - bronze - 137kg

fiji

athletics: Womens 5000m - Sereima Liku - silver - 20:10.67
athletics: Men's 100m - Niko Verekauta - gold - 10.59sec
athletics: Men's 100m - Ratu Banuve L. - silver - 10.68sec
athletics: Men's 800m - Varasiko Toge Tomeru - gold - 1:55.60
athletics: Women's 100m - Makelesi Bulikiobo - gold - 11.97sec
athletics: Women's 800m - Kavita Maharaj - gold - 2:18.40
athletics: Women's 800m - Salote Naiula - bronze - 2:20.13
athletics: Men's 1500m - Varasiko Toge Tomeru - bronze - 4:15.62
athletics: Men's 400m - Niko Verekauta - gold - 48.83sec
athletics: Men's 400m - Osea Dasalusalu - bronze - 49.92sec
athletics: Men's Javelin - Leslie Copeland - gold - 74.98m GR
athletics: Men's Long Jump - Ernest Petueli - bronze - 6.68m
athletics: Women's 400m - Makelesi Bulikiobo - gold - 55.71sec
athletics: Women's 400m - Paulini Korowaqa - silver - 58.02sec
athletics: Women's 400m - Makitalena Lokolokobuka - bronze - 58.89sec
athletics: Men's 110m Hurdles - Jone Wainoqolo - silver - 15.31sec
athletics: Men's 200m - Niko Verekauta - gold - 21.33sec
athletics: Men's 200m - Ratu Banuve L. Tabakauco - silver - 21.70sec
athletics: Men's 200m - Tevita Tuvuloka Nalovo - bronze - 22.16sec
athletics: Men's Octathlon - Kolinio Qarau - gold - 4719
athletics: Women's 1500m - Kavita Maharaj - gold - 5:04.43
athletics: Women's 1500m - Salote Naiula - silver - 5:05.91
athletics: Women's 200m - Makelesi Bulikiobo - gold - 24.52sec
athletics: Women's 200m - Paulini Korowaqa - silver - 25.07sec
athletics: Women's 200m - Anameli Korowaqa - bronze - 25.33sec
athletics: Women's Heptathlon - Soko Salaniqiqi - gold - 4745
athletics: Women's Triple Jump - Soko Salaniqiqi - silver - 11.31m
athletics: Men's 4 x 100m Relay - gold - 41.20sec
athletics: Men's 4 x 400m Relay - gold - 3:20.49
athletics: Men's 400m Hurdles - Jone Wainiqolo - gold - 55.12sec
athletics: Women's 4 x 100m Relay - gold - 46.63sec
athletics: Women's 4 x 400m Relay - gold - 3:56.05sec
athletics: Women's 400m Hurdles - Anameli Navukitu - gold - 65.32sec
athletics: Women's Long Jump - Soko Salaniqiqi - silver - 5.54m
boxing: Feather Weight Class - SHAHMEEM Mohammed - bronze
boxing: Light Welter Weight Class - SOKOBALAVU Taniela - bronze
boxing: Middle Weight Class - DELAILOMALOMA Solomone Sarawaqa - bronze
golf: Men' s Team Event - Roneel Prakash, Vikrant Chandra, Anuresh Chandra & Olaf Allen - bronze - 866
lawn bowls: Ladies Pairs - Lead: Adi Lavenia Qiqilawa HILL - ELAISA Skip: Maria PATEL - bronze
lawn bowls: Ladies Triples - Radhika Usha Kiran PRASAD Nellie Ranadi GAUNAVOU Varisila VOSALOTAKI - silver
lawn bowls: Men's Pairs - Lead: Som PADAYACHI Skip: Semesa NAISERUVATI - gold
lawn bowls: Men's Triples - Daniel LUM ON Abdul KALIM Ratish LAL - gold
lawn bowls: Men's Singles - Saemsa Naiserevati - silver
lawn bowls: Ladies Fours - silver
lawn bowls: Men's Fours - Ratish Lal, Abdul Kalim, Dan Lumon & Som Padiyachi - gold
netball: Women's Netball - gold
rugby 7s: Men's Rugby 7s - silver
rugby league 7s: Men's Rugby League 7s Team - gold
sailing: Hobie 16 - John Philp & Charlotte Dugdale - silver
sailing: Hobie 16 - Grahame Southwick & Cyril Miller - bronze
sailing: Hobie 16 Team - John Philp & Charlotte Dugdale, Grahame Southwick & Cyril Miller - silver
sailing: Laser Standard Team - Angus Pattie & Geoffrey Taylor - bronze
table tennis: Men's Doubles - R. Sen & Q. Wang - silver
table tennis: Men's Singles - Qi Wang - silver
table tennis: Men's Team Event - Qi Wang, Richel Shahil & Peter Paul Antonio - gold
table tennis: Mix Doubles - Q. Wang / S. Jeet - silver
table tennis: Women's Team Event - Xuan Li, Shriti Vandana Jeet & Venetia Julia Koi - silver
touch: Men's Team Event - silver
touch: Mix Team Event - silver
va'a: Men V1 500m - Mario Mausio - bronze - 2.25.86
va'a: Men V6 500m - bronze - 1.57.46
va'a: Woman V1 500m - Natalia Evans - silver - 2.46.90
va'a: Woman V1 10km - Natalie Evans - bronze - 1.06.51
weightlifting: Men's 69kg clean & jerk - Bill Andrews - bronze - 110kg
weightlifting: Men's 69kg snatch - Bill Andrews - bronze - 85kg
weightlifting: Men's 69kg total - Bill Andrews - bronze - 195kg
weightlifting: Men's 77kg clean & jerk - Josefa Vueti - gold - 167kg
weightlifting: Men's 77kg snatch - Josefa Vueti - silver - 125kg
weightlifting: Men's 77kg total - Josefa Vueti - gold - 292kg
weightlifting: Men's 94kg clean & jerk - Saimone Turaganivalu - silver - 160kg
weightlifting: Men's 94kg snatch - Saimone Turaganivalu - silver - 132kg
weightlifting: Men's 94kg total - Saimone Turaganivalu - silver - 292kg
weightlifting: Men's 56kg clean & jerk - Manueli Tulo - gold - 120kg
weightlifting: Men's 56kg snatch - Manueli Tulo - gold - 101kg (NR)
weightlifting: Men's 56kg total - Manueli Tulo - gold - 221kg
weightlifting: Women's 58kg clean & jerk - Maria Liku - gold - 90kg
weightlifting: Women's 58kg snatch - Maria Liku - gold - 75kg
weightlifting: Women's 58kg total - Maria Liku - gold - 165kg

Medalists: Vanuatu, Nauru, Kiribati, Cook Islands

vanuatu

athletics: Men's 800m - Arnold Sorina - silver - 1:56.39
athletics: Men's 1500m - Arnold Sorina - silver - 4:15.11
table tennis: men's doubles - H. Lulu & Y. Shing - gold
table tennis: men's singles - Yoshua Shing - gold
table tennis: women's doubles - A. Lulu & L. Santhy - gold
table tennis: women's doubles - S. Qwea & P. Tommy - bronze
table tennis: women's singles - Priscila Tommy - gold
table tennis: women's singles - Anolyn Lulu - silver
table tennis: women's singles - Liopa Santhy - bronze
table tennis: mix doubles - Y. Shing / A. Lulu - bronze
table tennis: women's team event - Anolyn Lulu, Liopa Santhy & Priscila Tommy - gold
tennis: men's team event - silver


nauru

boxing: Feather Weight Class - Caleb Colan - gold
boxing: Super Heavy Weight Class - Ageidu Jake - silver
boxing: Welter Weight Class - DEIRERAGEA Joseph - gold
weightlifting: Men's 85kg clean & jerk - Yukio Peter - gold - 190kg (NR)
weightlifting: Men's 85kg snatch - Yukio Peter - gold - 150kg (NR)
weightlifting: Men's 85kg total - Yukio Peter - gold - 340kg
weightlifting: Men's +105kg clean & jerk - Itte Detenamo - gold - 210kg
weightlifting: Men's +105kg snatch - Itte Detenamo - gold - 176kg GR
weightlifting: Men's +105kg total - Itte Detenamo - gold - 386kg GR
weightlifting: Men's 56kg clean & jerk - Elson Brechtefeld - silver - 110kg
weightlifting: Men's 56kg snatch - Elson Brechtefeld - silver - 86kg
weightlifting: Men's 56kg total - Elson Brechtefeld - silver - 196kg

kiribati

boxing: Light Heavy Weight Class - RUATA Tarieta - bronze
boxing: Light Weight Class - RODDY Kautoa - silver
boxing: Middle Weight Class - KOMETA Andrew - silver
boxing: Welter Weight Class - TOOMA Mikaobo - bronze
weightlifting: Men's 69kg clean & jerk - Tekaei Temake - gold - 150kg
weightlifting: Men's 69kg snatch - Tekaei Temake - gold - 112kg
weightlifting: Men's 69kg total - Tekaei Temake - gold - 262kg
weightlifting: Men's 77kg clean & jerk - Taubena Tatonga - bronze - 125kg
weightlifting: Men's 77kg snatch - Taubena Tatonga - bronze - 110kg
weightlifting: Men's 77kg total - Taubena Tatonga - bronze - 235kg
weightlifting: Men's 85kg clean & jerk - Beru Karianako - silver - 150kg
weightlifting: Men's 85kg snatch - Beru Karianako - silver - 115kg
weightlifting: Men's 85kg total - Beru Karianako - silver - 265kg
weightlifting: Men's 105kg clean & jerk - Meameaa Thomas - gold - 180kg
weightlifting: Men's 105kg snatch - Meameaa Thomas - gold - 140kg
weightlifting: Men's 105kg total - Meameaa Thomas - gold - 320kg
weightlifting: Men's 94kg clean & jerk - David Katoatau - gold - 180kg
weightlifting: Men's 94kg snatch - David Katoatau - gold - 140kg
weightlifting: Men's 94kg total - David Katoatau - gold - 320kg
weightlifting: Men's 62kg clean & jerk - Takenibeia Toromon - bronze - 110kg
weightlifting: Men's 62kg snatch Takenibeia Toromon - bronze - 91kg
weightlifting: Men's 62kg total - Takenibeia Toromon - bronze - 201kg

cook islands

athletics: Womens Discus Throw - Tereapii Tapoki - bronze - 48.46m
athletics: Men's Shot Put - Mau George - bronze - 13.85m
athletics: women's shot put - Tereapii Tapoki - bronze - 13.88m
boxing: Heavy Weight Class - HAGAI Vengi - silver
boxing: Light Heavy Weight Class - AKAI Osolai Maximillian Kolbe - bronze
golf: Men' s Team Event - James Herman, Kirk Tuaiti, Sonny Karati & Daniel Wedd - gold - 849
golf: men's individual - Kirk Tuaiti - gold - 278
golf: men's individual - Sonny Karati - bronze - 279
golf: women's individual - Elmay Viking - gold - 296
golf: women's team event - Alice Pilkinton, Maara Kenning, Tuaine Marsters & Elmay Viking - gold - 928
lawn bolls: ladies pairs - Lead: Mou Tokorangi Skip: Kanny Vaile - gold
lawn bolls: ladies triples - Ngatungane Tere Matauri Raeputa Teokotai Rahui Jim - gold
lawn bolls: men's pairs - Lead: Melson Akava Skip: David Akaruru - silver
lawn bolls: ladies singles - bronze
lawn bolls: men's singles - David Akaruru - gold
lawn bolls: ladies fours - Kanny Vaile, Matauri Raeputa, Mou Tokorangi & Teokotai Jim - gold
lawn bolls: men's fours - Nelson Akava, Lawrence Paniani, Vaine Henry & Denis Tokorangi - bronze
netball: Women's Team - bronze
rugby league 7s: Men's Rugby League 7s Team - silver
sailing: Hobie 16 Team - Peter Tierney & Toka Charlie, Aquila Tatia & Tanus Henry- bronze
sailing: laser radial - Helema Williams - gold
sailing: laser radial - Teau McKenzie - bronze
sailing: laser radial team - Helema Williams & Teau McKenzie - gold
sailing: laser standard - Junior Charlie - silver
sailing: laser standard - Peter Henry (Taua) - bronze
sailing: laser standard team - Junior Charlie & Peter Henry (Taua) - gold
tennis: Women's Team Event - silver
tennis: women's doubles - Brittany Teei & Kairangi Vano - gold
tennis: women's singles - Kairangi Vano - gold
tennis: women's singles - Brittany Teei - bronze
touch: Men's Team Event - gold
touch: women's team event - silver
touch: mix team event - gold
triathlon: Team Event - Geoff STODDART, Thomas HENDERSON & Jennie GEORGE - bronze - 7:08:15
va'a: Men V6 1500m - bronze - 8:17.65
va'a: Woman V6 1500M - silver - 9:25.66
va'a: Woman V6 500m - silver - 2:22.67
va'a: Men V1 15km - Reuben Dearlove - silver - 1.20.58
va'a: Men's V6 30KM Marathon - bronze - 2.18.53
va'a: Woman V6 20KM Marathon - silver - 1.45.31
weightlifting: Men's 85kg clean & jerk - Sirla Pera - bronze - 127kg
weightlifting: Men's 85kg total - Sirla Pera - bronze - 227kg
weightlifting: Men's +105kg clean & jerk - Samuel Pera - silver - 172kg
weightlifting: Men's +105kg snatch - Samuel Pera - silver - 140kg
weightlifting: Men's +105kg total - Samuel Pera - silver - 3122kg

Medalists: Solomon Islands, Tonga

solomon islands

weightlifting: women's 69kg clean and jerk - hapilyn iro - silver - 82kg
weightlifting: women's 69kg snatch - hapilyn iro - silver - 65kg
weightlifting: women's 63kg clean and jerk - jenly tegu wini - silver - 92kg
weightlifting: women's 63kg snatch - jenly tegu wini - silver - 65kg
weightlifting: women's 63kg total - jenly tegu wini - silver - 157kg
athletics: Mens 3000m Steeplechase - Chris Votu - gold - 10:07.43
athletics: Womens 5000m Run - Betty Babalu - gold - 20:10.29
athletics: Men's 10000m - Chris Votu - gold - 33:07.83
athletics: Women's 10000m - Betty Babalu - silver - 42:08.95
athletics: Men's Half Marathon - Chris Votu - bronze - 1:15:38.13

tonga

weightlifting: men's 69kg clean and jerk - Ilaniume Finau - silver - 115kg
weightlifting: men's 69kg snatch - Ilaniume Finau - silver - 90kg
weightlifting: men's 69kg total - Ilaniume Finau - silver - 205kg
weightlifting: men's +105kg clean and jerk - Maamaloa Lolohea - bronze - 171kg
weightlifting: men's +105kg total - Maamaloa Lolohea - bronze - 281kg
rugby 7s: men's rugby 7s - bronze
athletics: Womens Discus Throw - Ana Po'uhila - gold - 53.10m
athletics: Women's 100m - Latai Sikuvea - silver - 12.46sec
athletics: Women's 100m - Vasi Feke - bronze - 12.62sec
athletics: Women's Hammer Throw - Ana Po'uhila - gold - 50.70m
athletics: Men's 110m Hurdles - Inoke Finau - gold - 15.27sec
athletics: Men's High Jump - Esau Vakameilalo - bronze - 1.89m
athletics: Women's 100m Hurdles - Vasi Feke - silver - 15.21sec
athletics: Men's 4 x 100m Relay - silver - 43.35sec
athletics: Men's 4 x 400m - silver - 3:27.64
athletics: Men's 400m Hurdles - Heamatangi Tu'ivai - silver - 57.33sec
athletics: Women's 4 x 100m Relay - silver - 48.61sec
athletics: Women's 400m Hurdles - Vasi Feke - bronze - 68.12sec
athletics: Women's Shot Put - Ana Po'uhila - gold - 16.53m

Medalists: Wallis et Futuna, Norfolk Island, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Palau, American Samoa, Niue, FS Micronesia, PNG

wallis & futuna

athletics: men's javelin - bronze - sosefo panuve - 63.19m

norfolk island

athletics: men's hammer throw - bronze - brentt jones - 47.33m

tuvalu

athletics: women's triple jump - bronze - manoa asenate - 10.29m
weightlifting: men's 56kg clean and jerk - bronze - lapua lapua tuau - 90kg
weightlifting: men's 56kg snatch - bronze - lapua lapua tuau - 85kg
weightlifting: men's 56kg total - bronze - lapua lapua tuau - 175kg

tokelau

lawn balls: ladies pairs - silver - lead: opetera samakia ngatoko skip: vaolina linda pedro
lawn balls: ladies singles - silver

palau

weightlifting: men's 62kg clean and jerk - silver - strevick patris - 110kg
weightlifting: men's 62kg snatch - silver - strevick patris - 92kg
weightlifting: men's 62kg total - silver - strevick patris - 202kg

american samoa

boxing: light heavy weight class - gold - manutulila faleauto leuila
weightlifting: men's +105kg snatch - bronze - theron taupau - 125kg

niue

athletics: men's 100m - bronze - lagaua isac j.l.t. - 10.75sec
athletics: men's 4x100 relay - bronze - 43.97sec
lawn bolls: women's single - gold
touch: women's team - bronze
va'a: women v6 1500m - bronze - 9:30.30
weightlifting: women's 75kg clean and jerk - silver - tamyrah mautama
weightlifting: women's 75kg snatch - silver - tamyrah mautama
weightlifting: women's 75kg total - silver - tamyrah mautama
weightlifting: women's +75kg clean and jerk - silver - narita viliamu
weightlifting: women's +75kg snatch - silver - narita viliamu
weightlifting: women's +75kg total - silver - narita viliamu

federated states of micronesia

weightlifting: men's 62kg clean and jerk - manuel minginfel - gold - 140kg
weightlifting: men's 62kg snatch - manuel minginfel - gold - 105kg
weightlifting: men's 62kg total - manuel minginfel - gold - 245kg

papua new guinea

lawn bolls: ladies triples - Hilan Handan Fonzie Matang Walo Pisak - bronze
lawn bolls: men's triples - Lucas ROIKA Tom MORLEY Kiliwi Nabo - bronze
lawn bolls: men's fours - Harry Kaisa, Kiliwi Nabo, Tom Marley & Lucas Roika - silver
netball: women's team - silver

squash: men's team event - Michael Rucklinger Madako Suari Jnr Joe Yominao Kerry Walsh Anthony Nagul - silver
squash: women's team event - Barbara Stubbing Imong Brooksbank Kristine Seko Vanessa Nagul Dorothy Boyce - gold
squash: men's singles - Michael Rucklinger - gold
squash: women's singles - Barbara Stubbings - gold
touch: mix team event - bronze

Medal Tally

Position - Country - Gold + Silver + Bronze = Total
1 - Fiji - 32 + 26 + 20 = 78
2 - New Caledonia - 23 + 21 + 22 = 66
3 - Tahiti - 21 + 22 + 16 = 59
4 - Samoa - 16 + 16 + 24 = 56
5 - Cook islands - 15 + 13 + 17 = 45
6 - Kiribati - 9 + 5 + 8 = 22
7 - Nauru - 8 + 4 + 0 = 12
8 - Vanuatu - 5 + 4 + 3 = 12
9 - Tonga - 4 + 9 + 6 = 19
10 - Solomon islands - 3 + 6 + 1 = 10
11 - Papua New Guinea - 3 + 3 + 3 = 9
12 - Federated States of Micronesia - 3 + 0 + 0 = 3
13 - Niue - 1 + 6 + 4 = 11
14 - American Samoa - 1 + 0 + 1 = 2
15 - Palau - 0 + 3 + 0 = 3
16 - Tokelau - 0 + 2 + 0 = 2
17 - Tuvalu - 0 + 0 + 4 = 4
=18 - Norfolk islands - 0 + 0 + 1 = 1
=18 - Wallis & Futuna - 0 + 0 + 1 = 1
Guam - 0 + 0 + 0 = 0
Marshall islands - 0 + 0 + 0 = 0
Northern Marianas - 0 + 0 + 0 = 0

2009 Pacific Mini Games end with a bang

After twelve days of competition between 21 countries in fifteen codes, the 2009 Pacific Mini Games have ended.

Four hundred and fifteen medals have been awarded, 144 of them gold, with the last of these going to Samoa.

The Samoan rugby sevens team came out firing in the gold medal match and Fiji didn't know what hit them. At half time the Samoans had scored 26 unanswered points and Fiji were shell-shocked. They mad a better effort in the second half but it was too little too late.

The Samoans said earlier that they were playing for a country in pain. They put in a brilliant performance - now they will head home to family, friends and their devastated homeland.

After the medal presentation came the games closing ceremony. Athletes marched onto the field for the last time and settled down to enjoy the colourful entertainment provided by some of the Cook Islands' top cultural groups. The flag was lowered and handed over to Wallis and Futuna, hosts of the next mini games, the flame was extinguished and then the event ended with a bang as a firework display provided a spectacular finale to two weeks of sport.

Closing prayer wraps it all up

During the closing ceremony three representatives, one from Cook Islands, one from Samoa and the third from Tonga, prayed a special prayer for our Pacific neighbours who so recently experienced the natural disaster of a tsunami. Even though the prayers were in different languages, you could feel the emotion as the nation combined for a one minute silence for our Pacific brothers and sisters.

The closing prayer was by Bishop Tutai Pere.

“Our most gracious and precious heavenly Father, in the Name of thy dear SonJ esus Christ – our Lord and Saviour, we bow our heads before You, uniting our hearts and soul in one anthem of praise and thanks giving – thanking You for a truly successful Pacific Mini Games 2009 that we have just had, and now finally reaches its end. Though our hearts have been shattered and bewildered, gripped and mingled both with a face of gladness and sadness, a smile filled with both joy and sorrowfulness, overwhelmed with success yet flooded with grief, a voice of rejoicing yet with a tumultuous inner feeling of groaning and travailing – yet through it all – the real champions and heroes of the games are not only the medal winners at this game – but more so our Tongan and Samoan warriors who in the midst of such a disastrous adversity, bore the brunt and the most torrent and turbulent force of our current dilemna – endured and victoriously held the race on to the very end.

Thus, if there be one lesson to be learned at this game – it is the lesson of hope, love, peace, comradeship, friendship, real sportsmanship and fellowship that we have all shared one with another

- Jeremiah 42:6 reminds us: “Whether it be good or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God”.

– The Apostle Paul sums it all up in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things, through Christ Jesus which strengtheneth me”.

– And 2nd Corinthians 13:11, “Finally, brethren, farewell, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you”.

Bon voyage and safe travels to all our returning sports dignitaries, athletes and delegations, friends and visitors – back to your beloved home destinations, families and loved ones.

For our Cook Islands people – I pray that we continue to gladly share the moment – of a game successfully accomplished, of a job well done,

And a dream certainly come true. And the Peace of Christ which passeth all human understanding, keep your mind and heart in the Love of our Lordand Saviour Jesus Christ … to Him – always be the glory, praise and honour, both now and for evermore. Amen.”

Games highlights

The highs and lows, at the Pacific Mini Games have been many – from the opening ceremony on Monday, September 21, right through to last night’s closing at BCI Stadium.

At sports games, the highs are usually about winning medals – not necessarily gold – and breaking records.

Ramesh Bina from New Caledonia won the first gold at the games in the women’s javelin on the first day of competition – Tuesday, September 22. Tongan Ana Po’uhila broke the women’s discus record on the same day – Tereapii Tapoki winning the country’s first medal, a bronze in the same event.

Po’uhila was to repeat the feat in the hammer throw and shot put.

Who could forget 12-year-old Solomon Islands’ Betty Babu’s win in the 5000m, along with Chris Votu’s win in the 3000m steeple-chase, and then the 10,000m.

But was the Fijians who dominated at the athletics – sprinters Niko Verekauta and Makelesi Bulikiobo winning five golds each, and javelin thrower Leslie Copeland throwing a new record of 74.98m. Bulikiobo broke the women’s 100m record in 11.97s.

The Tahitians cleaned up in the oe vaka (paddling) sprints in Muri lagoon, and also in the longer races – any crew that stops paddling for a drinks break has got to be good!

September 25 will probably be remembered as Golden Friday for the Cooks.

It was the day that the home country won seven golds – four in golf, two in bowls and one for the men’s touch team. And that doesn’t include the bronze for the men’s individual golf (Sonny Karati), the men’s bowling pairs silver, the women’s touch silver, the two silvers and bronze in paddling, and Mau George’s shot put bronze.

New Caledonia’s Frederic Erin broke two records in the jump pit – setting 7.74m in the long jump and 16.03m in the triple jump.

The half marathon was won by Georges Richmond (Tahiti Nui) in 1:14:01.52 – New Caledonia’s Josiane Chipeaux was the first women home.

Fiji took gold in the netball over Papua New Guinea, who in turn relegated the hosts to third place.

At the boxing, the super heavyweight bout between Tafai Nena (Tahiti Nui) and Jake Ageidu (Nauru) was one of the most exciting matches during the competition.

But was the Samoan Afaese Fata Kalepi who was the pick of the boxers – showing class, power and good defence on the way to his gold in the 75kg division. In the heavyweight class, local boy Vengi Hagai was unable to connect with the left hook – Tahitian Richardet Mahanora taking gold.

The Tahitians showed up in force at the boxing, although there were a few surprises from Kiribati and Nauru.

New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea (women) provided the form players and teams in squash, with Michael Rocklinger and Barbara Stubbings (both PNG) taking gold in the singles.

Vanuatu was strong, along with Fiji, Tahiti Nui and New Caledonia, in table tennis, with Priscila Tommy and Yoshua Shing from Vanuatu taking out the individual titles.

The lifters from Micronesia and Samoa dominated the weightlifting – with Epe Opologe (Samoa), Yukio Peter (Nauru) and Itte Detenamo (Nauru) predictably breaking South Pacific lifting records.

Sam Pera Jnr and younger brother Sirla didn’t disappoint, and the appearance of young Luisa Peters was a boost for women’s weightlifting.

The Cook Islands women surprised many at tennis, and its sailors ruled the waves.

For the home country, the highlights would have to be the gold medals – four in golf, four in bowls, three in sailing, two in touch and two intennis.

Apart from tennis, one could say that the Cooks certainly did dominate in the sports it won gold in.

Roll on Noumea 2011.

Aere ra, e kia manuia!

The eighth Pacific Mini Games came to a close last night in true Cook Islands fashion.

Drumbeats and beautiful ura sent off athletes from the 21 nations that took part in the games and shared the moments over the past 12 days.

And there were some amazing moments including the wonderful closing ceremony.

In fact, Cook Islands culture was the centre of attention on the last night of the games with Te Maeva Nui teams putting on a show for our visitors to remember.

Not a negative word was said about the overall games at the closing with the people of the Cook Islands uniting to say farewell to our Pacific brothers and sisters.

As they did at the opening ceremony, teams paraded again through the BCI stadium with each nation picking their outstanding athlete of the gamesas their flag bearer.

For the Cook Islands, double tennis gold medallist Kai- rangi Vano was honoured with the role.

The youngster’s awesome performance on the tennis court has taken her from a little known athlete to a household name.

So have a number of other Cook Islands athletes like sailing sensation Helema Williams and golfing pro Elmay Viking and bowls brothers in arms David Akaruru and Nelson Akava to name just a few.

Solomon Islands mini star Betty Babalu who won the 5000m run, albeit causing some controversy, carried her nation’s flag and so did Samoan queen of weightlifting Ele Opeloge.

Not a single team will leave our shores without having had some magic moments – many of which will centre around the generosity of the Cook Islands people.

Not all memories will be fond ones though as some athletes will no doubt never forget about the moment they let a medal slip through their fingers – especially a gold one.

There will be other games to prove themselves like the next Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna in 2013, and of course the full-size Pacific Games in New Caledonia in 2011.

Mixed with the joy and celebration of the closing ceremony, a moment of silence was called and candles lit in honour of the tsunami victims in the Samoas and in Tonga, and for their warriors who carried on the fight on the sports field.

The moment of silence also brought home the strength of the love Pacific islanders have for their families and for each other.

After a moving prayer by Bishop Tutai Pere, it was time to reflect on the good times and share them with new found friends.

Fireworks brought the festivities to an end at the BCI stadium with teams heading to town for some fun.

Rarotonga will no doubt grind back to its slower pace by Sunday – but 2009 Pacific Mini Games moments will be talked about for some time to come.

Closing messages from competing countries

Samoa:
The Chef de Mission of Samoa, Faamau Samuelu Te’o Fuimaono, would like to thank the organisers and the Pacific Games Council for a job well done. Cook Islands has been one of the best for hosting the Pacific Mini Games 2009. The Samoa team will not forget Cook Islands not only because of the tragedy that has taken place in our home land but the hospitality has been great, we were treated so well, it feels like Cook Islands is just another part of Samoa, we felt so at home.

American Samoa:
Eddie Etisone Imo is the Chef de Mission from American Samoa and thanks the organising and the country Cook Islands for the generosity and hospitality. We should like to say a special thank you to Bishop Perefor his sympathy, thoughts and prayers through these trying times for our country. The comradeship that we have experienced in the Cook Islands and with those that are participating in the Games.

Vanuatu:
James Malau the Chef de Mission from Vanuatu would like to say thank you “Tumas” for the hospital and friendship during the Games. We want to say that we enjoyed the time that we spent here and shared with you, we go back with good memories. God bless you all.

Tokelau:
Kakite, kia manuia, we came as strangers and we leave as friends. Meitakimaata to our adoptive village of Mangaia and all the staff at Avarua Primary School, thank you for making us feel at home. Thank you Cook Islands for the wonderful hosting of the Pacific Mini Games 2009. God’s blessings to you all and see you all in New Caledonia. Tofa Ni Alofa Lahi from team Tokelau.

Niue:
Team Niue acknowledges everyone that has made the PMG09 a success and wouldlike to say on behalf of the Niue Government and NISANOC “Fakaue Lahi” Cook Islands people. Well done! Team Niue also extends condolences to the families of the victims of the natural disaster in American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga. God comfort you all at this time.

Papua New Guinea:
On behalf of the athletes and officials of Team PNG, we would like to congratulate all volunteers and officials on staging a successful Pacific Mini Games 2009. We will leave with fond memories of the 10 days of competition and of course the beauty of Rarotonga. May God richly bless the people of Nikao for being wonderful hosts. We look forward to seeing you all in the Pacific Games 2015 in Port Moresby.

Tahiti:
The athletes from Tahiti are staying in a beautiful place at Avatea with very good conditions. All the people of the Cook Islands are so friendly but there is just one problem, our athletes did not get enough food. Even though we are skinny people, we like to eat a lot. God bless Cook Islands and all the other countries that participated.

New Caledonia:
Chef de Mission Laurent Cassier from New Caledonia would like to say that with all our hearts, we thank the people of Cook Islands for the spectacular welcoming of our team. We brought a young squad and we are preparing for 2011 Games in Noumea, we came with high expectations and we feel that we have reached, that as it has been a team effort. We really want everyone to come to New Caledonia, we want to share the moments with our pacific communities, and we want to have a big fiesta with you all. The pacific community is the best in the world.

Nauru:
Chef de Mission Marissa Cook from Nauru would like to thank our sports colleagues, the volunteers, liaison officers who helped us. To the people of Cook Islands, thank you for your generous hospitality to our team and we will see you again at the next Games. God bless Cook Islands and the people.

Palau:
Chef de Mission Kenny Reklai, on behalf of the Palau National Olympic Committee the team Palau athletes and officials says we would like to congratulate the organising committee for the purpose of the Games, the officials and volunteers for all their hard work and especially to our Rutaki School and the village for opening their hearts and making us feel at home. To our friends from Wallis & Futuna, who shared our accommodations, we congratulate you for your effort in the games and look forward to seeing you as you host Games 2013.

Federated States of Micronesia:
Chef de Mission George Steven says on behalf of team FSM we would like to thank the Cook Islands people the tremendous work that you have all done. If you had not worked together, we would not have had goodcompetition. Thank you for the hospitality and the beautiful smiles, all the assistances, and caring for us. We have enjoyed good sleep a tour accommodation and the food we have also enjoyed. We wish you all the best for future Games Cook Islands.

Tuvalu:
From the Tuvalu team, thank you to Tereora College for providing accommodation, and to those at the dining hall for feeding us, thank you also to the Tuvaluan families who visited us and also fed us. To the PMG09 organisers thank you. The two sports we entered were Weightlifting and Athletics, we have enjoyed our time here and with the experience gained, we hope to be better athletes. We would like to come again to Cook Islands.

Kiribati:
On behalf of the Kiribati team we want to say that we really enjoyed the hospitality of the people of the Cook Islands and we enjoyed the Games. We hope there will be a next Pacific Mini Games in the Cook Islands so that we can come back again and “share the moments” with you all.

Note:
To all those countries that we were not able to get hold of to make your final comments, thank you for coming to the Cook Islands, we pray that your stay has been most enjoyable and that when you go back to your country, you will share the moments to all that you meet and one day come back to our beautiful paradise.

Samoa shares the moment

Hearing the national anthem of Samoa as the final anthem of the Pacific Mini Games was a poignant moment that must have made everyone reflect about what Samoa has experienced over this last week.

The Samoan Sevens Rugby Champions held their heads high as the Samoan Community sang their national song in remembrance of those at home.

They had just defeated Fiji, the Kings of the Pacific Sevens. There was a lot to celebrate and a lot to be thankful for, but the shared moment was for those who are in Samoa.

Our best wishes go with the team as they travel home again.

It was finals day today (Saturday) at the BCI Stadium and Fiji continued their winning ways on the track.

It was finals day today (Saturday) at the BCI Stadium and Fiji continued their winning ways on the track. They scooped the gold medals in the women’s and men’s 400m hurdles, the women’s and men’s 4x100m relays, and the women’s and men’s 4x400m relays. Fiji also won silver in the women’s long jump. French Polynesia took the gold. The men’s discus medals went to New Caledonia (gold and bronze) and Tahiti (silver).

In the men’s triple jump it was New Caledonia first and second with Tahiti third. Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands were first, second and third in the women’s shot put. New Caledonia won the women’s half marathon and Georges Richmond (Tahiti) the men’s.

Fiji defeated PNG in an exciting battle for gold and silver in the netball final. The real champions were probably the Fiji supporters who cheered, danced and waved banners to encourage their girls in an offcourt display that matched the netballers’ enthusiasm on court. The Cook Islands defeated Tokelau in the bronze medal playoff. Out on the water Tahiti dominated the va’a marathon races – as expected - taking gold in the women’s 20km and the men’s 30km races. But the Cook Islands’ women will be happy with their silver and the men with their bronze.

Fiji gained two more gold medals when the men’s team defeated Tahiti and the women’s team defeated Vanuatu in the table tennis teams finals. In the squash teams event Papua New Guinea won the women’s gold medal, Samoa the silver and New Caledonia the bronze. The same three teams picked up the men’s team medals – New Caledonia the gold, PNG the silver and Samoa the bronze.

Ten boxing goldmedals were decided tonight (Saturday). Samoa’s Kaisa Ioane won the flyweight title; Tahiti’s Jason Tuihaa the bantam weight; Nauru’s Colan Caleb the featherweight; New Caledonia’s Gyan Athalae the lightweight; Tahiti’s Jean-Louis Albertini the light welterweight; Nauru's Joseph Deireragea the welterweight; Samoa's Afaese Fata Kalepi the middleweight; American Samoa's Faleauto Manutulila the lightheavyweight; Tahiti's Richardet Mahanora the heavyweight and Tahiti's Tafai Nena the super heavyweight.

Fiji still lead the medals table with 48 medals; 21 gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze. Tahiti are second, also with 48 medals, with 19 gold. New Caledonia have 40medals, 15 gold and the Cook Islands 24 medals, 7 gold.

Fiji leads medals

FIJI leads the medal tally after day five of the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.
It boasts 14 gold, 11 silver and 12 bronze medals.
Tahiti is in second with 11 gold, 10 silver and seven bronze medals.
New Caledonia is on third with eight gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals.
Host Cook Islands made a huge leap yesterday to seven golds after winning a massive four gold medals in golf, two in bowls and one in touch rugby, plus five silver and four bronze medals.
Fiji’s athletics team has been dominating the track since Tuesday and earned most of their medals from there.
Today, Team Fiji eyes to claim the remaining medals on stake to cement their position as the top athletics team in the Pacific.
In the first medal playoffs yesterday, New Caledonia’s Yorick Metzdorf won the men’s high jump event with a height of 1.95 metres.
Kavita Maharaj of Fiji, Cedric Oblet of New Caledonia and Tahiti’s Terani Faremiro snatched a brace.
Maharaj claimed the women’s 1500m race with a time of 5 minutes 04.43s in a closely contested event.
Oblet won the men’s 5000m race after clocking 15 minutes 53.92s.
Terani Faremiro won the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 15.14s.
Tonga’s Inoke Finau took the men’s 110m hurdles. He clocked 15.27s.
Daniel Kilama of New Caledonia won gold in the men’s shot put event with a power throw of 16.17m.
PMG record holder Shaka Sola of Samoa won the silver medal with a distance of 16.16m.
Fiji’s Soko Salaniqiqi won the gold in the women’s heptathlon after achieving maximum points of 4745 from the seven sports required in this event.
The athletic events finish today at the BCI Stadium.

Will small countries ever host big games?

IT will be impossible for small countries to host full games, says long time Pacific games observer Bob Snow. This is after concern is reported to be growing that the South Pacific Games may be becoming too big for most regional countries to host.
The 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva was reported to have brought together more than 4000 competitors and officials from 22 participating countries.
That games costing was at least US$31 million comprising sporting facilities given by China, money from the Fiji government, corporate sponsorship of $7 million dollars and Suva City Council upgrading worth $3 million.
The 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa was reported to have spent more on making the event much bigger and better than the previous one.
For the 2011 Games, host New Caledonia is spending close to a massive US$120 million in infrastructure and games organising.
“I stick to my words that it will be impossible for smaller countries to host full games,” Snow said.
“All the small countries spend most of their money on health, education, transport and infrastructure and it will be difficult for them to use the money on big games.”
The 2009 Pacific Mini Games have seen less competition especially in track events where Fijians have been dominant.
“There have been no surprises so far except for the three field events where the PMG records have been broken,” Snow said.
“All sports personnel here continuously take part in the Oceania championships and maybe they (Pacific Games Council) have to rethink how it (PMG) operates.”

Tuvalu raise flag

The Tuvalu delegation and representatives from Enuamanu School in Atiu, held a flag-raising ceremony yesterday signalling the visiting team’s presence in the Pacific Mini Games village.
Tuvalu, under Sylia Tevao, includes another two officials and a sprinter Asenate Manoa, arrived at last weekend and the delegation is housed at Tereora College.
Two weightlifters are due in this weekend.
The ceremony was held just outside the main entrance to the Princess Annehall, just as athletes, officials and volunteers, around Tereora, were tucking into lunch.
Deputy principal Tira Tararo spoke on behalf of the host school, saying they would be at the BCI Stadium today to cheer on Manoa in the 200m heats.
While the flag was being raised, the national anthem was sung, led by the resident Atiu doctor’s wife, (Teka’ai) Nelesone who is on Rarotonga for the games.

PMG Connects Family

It is not unusual to have siblings in sports teams representing their country. The unusual feature about this family is that they are representing two different countries.

Although they have been able to keep in touch by distance, meeting each other at this Pacific Mini Games has been the first time that they have actually seen each other since Faitoa left Nauru.

Although they are living in separate camps - Faitoa is with Samoa at Nukutere College in Avarua, while Francis is with Nauru at Tereora College in Nikao - they have tried to make as much time as possible to be with each other, in between their training sessions.

Faitoa (20) is a weightlifter for Samoa and her brother Francis (18) is a long distance runner for Nauru. They have been separated since their parents’ marriage broke up four years ago. Frances remained in Nauru with his mother, while Faitoa left with her father to live in Samoa.

They spent tonight at the boxing (where they watched Cook Islander Vengi Hagai beat his New Caledonian opponent in the final bout of the evening).

Before Francis left Nauru, their mother gave him a special gift. She didn’t want to waste the opportunity of his being able to see his sister and she is missing her daughter so much that she bought Francis a camera so that he could take a whole pile of photos of his sister while she is here on Rarotonga. So the Pacific Mini Games has enabled a very happy reunion.

Both Francis and Faitoa have been able to share some valuable moments together before they are again parted for who knows how long before they will see each other again.

No doubt there will be lots of memories and photos to take home to their parents - in Samoa and in Nauru.

Opening ceremony torch carriers

These mamas and papas have done their country proud with their past and presentsporting achievements and they were honoured at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games opening ceremony with carrying the games torch.

Tupui Ariki Henry - From 1943 – 1946 played for the Waikato Colts rugby team and was a member of the Waikato College Athletics Team. Tupui was also the winner of the Rowe Cup in long jump and triple jump. From 1947 – 1950 Tupui won the East Coast Bays cup in athletics. Tupui was also a trialist for the 1950 NZ Empire Games team, also winning the Dominion Breweries Cup in long jump. 1951 – 1966 he was a member of the Glenfield Bowling Club. In 1967-1979 he returned home to the Cook Islands. In 1973 he coached the Avatiu rugby team, 1974 coached the Matavera rugby team and was president of the Takuvaine Sports & Culture Association Inc. In 1979 he was selected as a member of the Cook Islands bowling team to the South Pacific Games held in Suva, Fiji and won gold in pairs. 1981 was appointed a life member of the Rarotonga Bowling Club. In 1985 at the Mini SPG held in the Cook Islands, he was the chairperson of ceremonies. In 1987 he was appointed as a life member of the Avatiu Sports Association. Still at it in 1999 age 70 he participated in the North Harbour Masters Games in Auckland winning long jump, shot put and javelin. He has over time achieved what some only dream of.



William Heather (Senior) In 1965 William organised a sporting event to celebrate the Cook Islands becoming self governing. In attendance were Sir and Lady Ferguson. William called the sporting clubs on Rarotonga together to celebrate this prestigious event. Sports on the programme include rugby played at Raemaru, netball played at Arorangi School, tennis at the Arorangi CIIC residence and athletics at Raemaru among others. William was not only the games coordinator but he was also the head coach and trainer for the rugby team and an athlete in the athletics team, throwing the shot put and claiming first place as well as playing tennis doubles with the late George Robati, and taking out first place. In 1968 Wiliam Heather was elected as the president of the Arorangi Sports Federation and today he still holds that position - the longest serving member of the Arorangi Sports Federation. In 1970 during the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to the Cook Islands, William Heather was again called upon to organise the first Duke of Edinburgh sports events. Again William used the sources on the island, utilising club officials on Rarotonga, and also getting support from the outer islands to assist and run the programme. In 1971 William was appointed as team manager for Team Cook Islands to the South Pacific Games in Tahiti. He was accompanied by Pokoina Tommy as assistant team manager, Tuaine Keene as chaperone and William Hosking as team captain.

Inatio Akaruru represented Cook Islands in Commonwealth bowls, Pacific bowls and World bowls, in Fiji in 1979 and 1983 in Western Samoa for the South Pacific Games. In 1985 when Cook Islands hosted the South Pacific Mini Games, he won a silver medal in the men's pairs for lawn bowls with his teammate, Waitari Arama. For the PMG09 Papa Akaruru was very happy, proud and pleased with our team because he was coaching them and they won 4 gold, 1 silver 2 bronze medals - a great achievement.

Niotangi Heather represented Cook Islands in tennis 1971 in the fourth South Pacific Game that was held in Tahiti.

Kura Strickland was the team manager for athletics at the 1971 games in Tahiti and became the president of CISNOC after the games.

Jim Little has been involved with sport in the Cook Islands for many years. In particular he has been a stalwart of boxing and he was honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the international boxing association AIBA at the Pacific Games Council meeting in Rarotonga in September.

Rosie Blake is the current secretary general of CISNOC and has been involved in Cook Islands sport and particularly netball for many years.

Tuvalu National Olympic Representatives

Vete Palakua Sakaio, vice president of the Tuvalu National Olympic Committee enjoyed a quiet breakfast this morning with Teake Esene Manatu, secretary of committee.
Tuvalu have three athletes in this year’s Pacific Mini Games.
Their only female athlete is Asenate Manoa who will be competing in the 100m, 200m, triple jump and long jump.
The other athletes in the team are weightlifters. They will be arriving on Rarotonga next Monday with weightlifters from other islands who are allunder the same trainer.
Vete said that although soccer, rugby and cricket are popular sports in Tuvalu, the cost of taking a team to international events is prohibitive. They therefore concentrate on sports for individuals and are pleased to have talented athletes like Asenate to represent them at events such as the Pacific Mini Games.

Samoa sends large team to compete

A large contingent of Samoans have travelled to the Cook Islands to compete in the many sporting codes on offer at the Pacific Mini Games.
Youth and experience make up the team which is poised to be a threat in just about every sporting event that they compete in.
The youngsters who carried the Team Samoa banner into the stadium demonstrate the cultural diversity of the Samoan people who are here to demonstrate their solidarity as a people as they vie to claim as many of the golds and other medals as they can during these games.
At the last Pacific Mini Games in Palau in 2005, New Caledonia won 112 medals, 56 of them were gold. Fiji was second with 59 medals, 23 of them gold, and Papua New Guinea was third with 35 medals, 16 of them gold.

Miss South Pacific accompanies home country Niue

It’s not every country who can have Miss South Pacific to lead out their nation’s sports team at an international event like the Pacific Mini Games.

Niue was given that privilege as Miss South Pacific 2008, Vanessa Marsh, marched behind her country’s flag to lead Team Niue into the BCI Stadium as part of the official opening of the Games.

Vanessa won the title of Miss South Pacific nearly a year ago in American Samoa. This year the pageant will be held at Albert Park in Suva, Fiji on November 21-29, 2009.

The Cook Islands representative for the 2009 pageant will be Engara Gosselin whose grace and talent won her the Miss Cook Islands title in April of this year.

Nauru flag held high by 15 year old weightlifter

The flag of tiny nation of Nauru was carried proudly into the BCI Stadium by young weightlifter, Elson Brecherfield. At the age of 15 years, he is competing internationally for the first time in the 56kg class.

Nauru was welcomed into the stadium during the march past by the Nukuroa Te Maeva Nui team from Mitiaro.

Fantastic meals for athletes and volunteers

Tau Estall, liaison officer for Nauru, agreed with her guests that the meals that have been provided for the athletes and management at the Pacific Mini Games have been fantastic.
Celestine Eoaeo, the team manager for Nauru (left) and the chef de mission, Marissa Cook, were both impressed not only with the quality of the breakfasts, lunches and dinners they have eaten since they arrived on Saturday, but also with the service of the young volunteers who are working in the dining room at the Princess Ann Hall. They all said that the youngsters had been polite, helpful and very hardworking.
No doubt this is the same for all the catering venues. Well done our volunteers. Only 12 more days to go.

Parade of nations

The opening ceremony on Monday will be a very colourful affair with all the Maeva Nui outer islands team participating along with the Maeva Nui overall winner Oire Nikao.
Coordinator of the Pacific Mini Games opening ceremony Mauri Toa says it is going to be a bit unusual in that each country will be given a turou (welcome) that is unique to the island that will welcome them into the BCI Stadium.
Oire Nikao has been given the privilege of welcoming Team Cook Islands, with Manihiki island welcoming Palau, the last country to host a mini games, as well as American Samoa.
Fiji has a large contingent of athletes and officials and they will be welcomed by the island of Rakahanga. Tongareva (Penhryn) will welcome French Polynesia and the Federated States of Micronesia. Pukapuka will turou Kiribati and Guam followed by a turou for Nauru and New Caledonia by Nukuroa (Mitiaro). Atiu has the privilege of welcoming Niue and Norfolk Island. Aitutaki will welcome Northern Marianas and Papua New Guinea and Mauke will turou the Solomon Islands contingent. Samoa and Tokelau will be welcomed by the Cook Islands’ most southern island, Mangaia. Oire Arorangi gets to welcome the islands of Tonga and Tuvalu. The last islands to enter the arena will be Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna with the host country Team Cook Islands at the end of the parade. The Maeva Nui winner for 2009, Oire Nikao will give them all a rousing welcome to complete the Parade of Nations.
But that’s not all …
According to Mauri Toa, as each country reaches their rest location in the centre field, their welcome will be completed by an offering of Ata Ma’anga (food) as befitting the welcoming of guests into the home.
Each team will receive a kikau kai full of nu.
If everything goes according to the programme, the nations will be in the middle of the stadium for approximately three hours, so the kikau of nu will be a welcome respite for them as they become spectators of the opening ceremony.
To prepare for the opening ceremony Justine Nicholas brought students from Takitumu, **ikaveka College, Arorangi, Nikao, Avatea and Avarua to perform an item before the official part of the opening starts.
This will of course start with the opening prayer service by the Religious Advisory Council, followed by the arrival and hoisting of the official SPG flag, oath of athletes, oath of officials followed by speeches.

Welcome from the CEO of the games – Mac Mokoroa

Turou oro mai greetings and kia orana to all our visitors whether you come as an athlete or as a supporter, welcome to the Cook Islands. To all our chefs de mission and your country team members welcome to the Pacific Mini Games 2009. On behalf of the Government of the Cook Islands, the 2009 PMG organising committee and the people of the Cook Islands we extend a warm greeting to you all. To all our Cook Islands people from our sister islands from the northern and southern groups turou oro mai kia koutou katoatoa, let us all join together and enjoy the games, let’s share our mana, our legacy, our tradition and ourhearts. The hosting of the Pacific Mini Games is a privilege for the people of the Cook Islands and we have united together to make sure that our guests and visitors are taken care of in such a way that they will always have a special place in their heart for the Cook Islands. Our gallant athletes have trained hard for the games, and now comes the exciting part to watch who comes out as glorious winners. I wish you all a most enjoyable stay whilst here in Cook Islands and let us enjoy the Pacific Mini Games together as brothers and sisters in the Pacific. Let the games begin.

Tahitian Bus Stop

Nancy Tehei, General Secretary of the Olympic Committee for Tahiti (top far right) was on hand to give her stamp of approval to the insignia of the Tahitian flag which now graces the outside walls of the bus shelter outside the CITC Supermarket.

Students and staff of Avatea School spent a full day painting the shelter, inside and out, to clearly identify it as representing Tahiti whom they will host at their school during the Pacific Mini Games.

Nancy was very complimentary about the efforts of these young students who took time out from their school holidays to do this special task. She is sure that the team will enjoy seeing their flag depicted on the walls as they pass by the bus shelter.

Nancy is one of a seven-member delegation who have been working with the PMG organisers to ensure that everything is in readiness for the Tahitian team’s stay at Avatea School.

The delegation is currently staying at Edgewater but will move into the school itself with the rest of the team after they arrive on Friday.

And where does Tahiti expect to get its medals at this year’s Pacific Mini Games? Nancy says with perhaps a little hesitation, “Va’a… Triathlon…Athletics… and maybe Table Tennis.” Table Tennis is a young person’s sport in Tahiti, and most of their table tennis team are only 13 or 14 years old.

Good luck to Tahiti at the Pacific Mini Games.

BCI stadium opened

The official launch of the BCI stadium, formerly the Tereora Stadium, on Friday afternoon was a fun-filled event that drew several hundred people for the occasion.

The stadium grandstand now bears the name of the people's bank – Bank of the Cook Islands.

Vertical banners hang from the stadium lights with games sponsors' banners taking pride of place around the perimeter of the new $1.2 million running track.

Bank of the Cook Islands managing director Vaine Arioka reiterated the bank's commitment to making the Pacific Mini Games the best ever.

She shared some inspiring words with Team Cook Islands athletes who joined BCI staff for the launch.

"Belief in a thing makes it happen," Arioka told the athletes. "BCI believes in you and the people of the Cook Islands believe in you."

"If anything goes wrong," she ended, "don't worry, be happy!"

Before inter-code sprints began, Avera Hunter led a warm up session of Zumba and the stadium come alive as DJ GDub encouraged athletes, spectators and Team Cook Islands officials to shake their booties to some funky Latin music to get the blood pumping.

The first race of the afternoon was between games mascot Kuki the Kukupa and WYNC mascot Turts the Onu.

It was a tight race but with a flap of the wing Kuki flew across the finishing line first.

The littlies from the potiki sports programme showed their speed when they ripped down the running track before the inter-code sprints got underway with plenty of teasing and laughing ringing from the BCIstadium. And after all that exercise there were plenty of takers for the sausage sizzle and plates of food provided by BCI.

Hugh Henry’s legacy continues…

Helen Henry was one of the early birds to buy family tickets for the Pacific Mini Games launched last Friday at the main office of the Bank of Cook Islands.
She is the widower of the late Hugh Henry who led the successful negotiations for the inclusion of the Cook Islands into the Olympic family in the 1980s.
Her family have since followed in Hugh’s footsteps in all aspects of Cook Islands sports whether as a competitor or organisers including this years Pacific Mini Games. Son Nick Henry is very involved with the promotion of the game as a volunteer for the PMG broadcaster working closely with CITV, Cook Islands Radio, Radio 88FM, and Te Digital Factory.
The World Youth Netball Competition served as a very good dress rehearsal for the Mini Games as this will have added challenge for the broadcaster having to cover several located venues including Aitutaki.
Nick’s brothers Mike and Stewart are involved with the Sailing competition on Aitutaki

'Safe Games' package for athletes

The Cook Islands ministry of health and the environment service have combined to produce a goodie bag for the teams who will be coming to Rarotonga for the Pacific Mini Games.
The aim is to encourage the athletes to safeguard their health and to protect our environment while they are enjoying our hospitality.
The goodies are packed into a reusable bag labelled 'Safe Games' on one side and 'O au e makona aorangi' (Mangaian for I'm an environment champion) on the other.
Health and environment hope the visitors will use the bags while shopping so that they don't need plastic bags.
Eachbag contains a Safe Games cap, a pair of Vaka jandals, a refillable water bottle - no need for throw-away plastic bottles - his and her condom packs, a wrist band and pens as well as leaflets about STDs.
The organisers say that after most large gatherings of people for sport or entertainment the rate of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) increases.
They hope that a timely reminder in a fun package will make people more aware of the problem and ensure that they take care.
Our mini games should be an enjoyable time and nobody wants to find they have an STD when everyone goes home.

Team Cook Islands announced

The names of athletes and officials who have been selected for Team Cook Islands were announced today (Tuesday) at the CISNOC office in Taptapuatea.
The individual managers or coaches read the list of their sport's final team.
CISNOC president Sir Geoffrey Henry addressed the assembled sports people as did minister of sports Aunty Mau Munokoa. Also present was New Zealand Olympian Barbara Kendall.

Papua New Guinea awarded the 2015 Pacific Games in close contest

Today at the Edgewater Resort in Rarotonga an historic event in the life of the Pacific Games Council has unfolded. Bids were lodged on the 27th March 2009 to host the 2015 Pacific Games by three PGAs to the Council and member PGAs. These bids were received from the PGAs of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tonga. Subsequently Solomon Islands withdrew their bid.

These bids were of a high standard and exceptional quality, confirming the capacity and willingness of our PGAs to bid to host our Games. PGC President Vidhya Lakhan In congratulating the PGAs of PNG and Tonga fortheir initiative recognised the commitment and professionalism in these bid do**ents adding to the prestige surrounding the Pacific Games. President Lakhan personally congratulated the Governments of Papua New Guinea and the Kingdom of Tonga in recognising the value of their investments into the hosting of the Pacific Games. Their supportand unreserved undertakings to fund the costs to Host the 2015 Pacific Games is gratefully recognised by the Council. Papua New Guinea pledged US$100m to the Games budget and Tonga pledged US$50m

The 22 member countries of the Pacific Games Council cast their vote and the President called all members to assemble in Port Moresby, PNG in 2015 for the Pacific Games.

President Vidhya took this opportunity to thank the PGA of Tonga, the losing bidder noting the importance to our future that PGAs invest in these Games and in this bidding process. “I wish to recognise the considerable human resource and volunteer investments along with the Tongan Government’s financial investment it is this support that is applauded, and on behalf of the Council and the member PGA I congratulate and thank you” said President Vidhya Lakhan.

"In congratulating PNG, the host of the 2015 Pacific Games, I like you am excited and enthusiastic to the future that you offer to the Pacific Games movement and its member PGA’s. We will now forge new partnerships with you, your Government and our Games partners, let the planning of these Games in PNG begin,” the challenge issued by the President to the Host PGA of 2015.

The voting resulted in 25 votes to PNG and 22 votes to Tonga and concluded with the signing of the Host Agreement for the 2015 Games by the Minister of Sports Dame Carol Kidu for the PNG Government; Sir Henry To Robert for the Host PGA; and President Lakhan on behalf of the Pacific Games Council.

Touch selectors name squad for mini-games

The Cook Islands touch rugby selectors have settled on a final squad of 14 men and 14 women for the Pacific Mini Games. The squad is co-captained by Julieanne Westrupp and Mary Adams who both won a touch rugby gold and silver medal at the Apia Pacific Games in 2007.
Touch president Mark Brown said the final squad of 28 players that was selected from a wider squad of 69 players this week is a balance of players from both the Cook Islands and from overseas. Seven men and seven women are currently in New Zealand or Australia. Their selection has been based on regular assessments with Brown conducting the most recent one in New Zealand last week.
Touch Cook Islands is aiming to improve on their Apia 2007 result where the women won a gold medal, the mixed men and women won a silver medal, and the men finished fourth.
In the quest for gold medals, Brown said the touch programme called for hard intensity training over the next six weeks up the start of the games. The overseas squad members are expected to begin arriving within three weeks of the games until they are all in Rarotonga one week before the competition begins.
“They will have one week to gel together as a team. They have all have been given the same type of training, the same plays, the same moves so they shouldn’t take long to gel.”
While the final squad has been confirmed, Touch Cook Islands will be able to call on some players who missed the cut but are continuing to train with the squad and are on standby in case any player is injured. The importance of replacements was illustrated in the lead up to the 2007 Apia Pacific games when one girl ruptured her knee in training. “We were lucky that the backup players were still training and they slotted in just fine.”
Meanwhile the touch competition management officials will get together this weekend to nut out preparations for the games. The competition manager is Ronnie Siulepa who founded touch rugby in the Cook Islands (and in Auckland Central) “many, many years ago”.
Siulepa said his committee was wearing hometown pride and was aiming for the touch competition to be the best ever for the competing Pacific teams. Having fantastic facilities for touch rugby at the CIFA field in Matavera was great.
And Suilepa said it was a plus having a dynamic committee behind the competition including big boy Clem Fortes a former touch rugby star, Brian and Dot Conning who used to be heavily involved in touch rugby in Auckland and for New Zealand, Pare Tangata physiotherapist, and Mark Brown touch president.
The competition comprises three divisions: men, women, and mixed. Suilepa said touch is usually very tough at the Pacific Games between Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands. Samoa is the defending men’s champion from the last Pacific Games and will be very competitive while Fiji is sending a 31-member squad to field three teams to reclaim their mantle as top touch nation in the Pacific. Fiji touch president Inoke Veresa this week told Fiji live Sports, “We are really confident that we will win three gold medals.”
This year Niue can be counted on to provide stiff competition to all the teams. Tahiti is the new team appearing in the competition and is an unknown quantity.
The competition involves speed and stamina with teams required to play two games a day. Fitness plays a big part as the competition progresses. The competition is played over Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of the first week and Monday and Tuesday in the second week.
The Cook Islands squad comprises:
(Women) Julieanne Westrupp, Mary Adams, Edith Nicholas, Taromi Urirau, Tai**mings, Rheima Bishop, Daphne Hosking Brown, Sandra Tisam, Apii Nicholls, Beniamina Koiatu, Ani Hapeta, Poko Kamana, Vaine Ben and Rose Kauvai.
(Men) Geoffrey Halston, Conrad Piri, Andy Kapi, Andrew Mokoroa, Gordon Heather, Tariu Tairea, Apii Rau, Brian Adams, Jason Roi, Chairman Munokoa, Emile Kamana, Sam Toroma, Teava Terangi, and Teiva Tauira.

Smallest school takes on big task

“Oh, say! can you see by the dawn's early light” was cheerily sung by Rutaki primary school students at the raising of the United States national flag alongside that of the Cook Islands and Wallis and Futuna.
At the launch of the adopt-a-country programme Rutaki was chosen to support the USA under-21 netball team for the World Youth Netball Championships.
Rutaki primary school may be the smallest school on Rarotonga but it has a big heart and big voices to go with it.
The school had faced closure because of a declining roll however the dedicated staff and an enthusiastic school committee, with the help oflocal MP the Hon Tom Marsters, have seen numbers increase to vindicate keeping it open.
Although all the WYNC netball teams, including the Americas, are accommodated at the Edgewater Resort, the school will be cheering for them at their games and will probably host them for a visit to the school.
During the mini games athletes from Wallis and Futuna and Palau will be accommodated at Rutaki so the school has learnt the national the anthem for Wallis and Futuna (a French overseas territory) and will need tolearn Palau’s anthem.
All schools around Rarotonga and the Southern Group islands are involved with the adopt-a-country project.

Bowls upgrading delights Mani

The fast-tracking of the upgrade to the bowling club’s facilities is giving lawn bowls a new zest – even while bowlers have been on a holiday and the confirmation that a new elevated green will not be ready in time for the Games. Bowls president Veia Mani was delighted with the changes being made to the Cook Islands bowling centre in Tutakimoa for the Pacific Mini-Games saying they represented long term progress for the sport.

No bowling has actually happened in the past few weeks because the grass on the main green is being rested so that the Mini Games bowls competition will have a good surface. Bowlers have used this ‘raui’ or timeout period over the past few weeks to fill in as landscapers, carpenters, painters and labourers. They are sprucing up the club to welcome fellow bowlers from the other Pacific nations for the biggest bowling tournament to be held in the country to date. “We’ve got these working bees every night at 5.30pm. We cross our fingers it won’t rain.”

The competition will involve the six island bowling nations of Samoa, Fiji, Tokelau, Papua New Guinea, Niue and Cook Islands while Norfolk Islands will have a solitary representative. Club president Veia Mani is optimistic the Mini Games will generate intense interest because if past experience is any guide the competition will be fierce and sometimes world class. The Fiji lawn bowls champion Ratish Lal for example is ranked number three is the world and is currently competing in a singles championship in Scotland before joining the rest of the Fiji team in Malaysia for the Asia-Pacific tournament.

Mani says all countries are familiar with how each other plays from competing in numerous international meetings and all will be providing stiff competition. The Cook Islands bowlers are not fazed about lack of recent match play while their home green is rested. They have home advantage which they believe is in their favour. According to Mani, the Cook Islands bowlers have undergone “mental preparation” working on their mindsets for “focus, concentration, and thinking positive” which will be vital during the Games. “We’re hoping that next week the team will go on the green for a few runs while we’re still working on it.

The plan is to have five weeks for the team to practice and to get their combinations right.” Mani says that his association is focused on getting the main bowling green right for the Mini Games. Because they are focused on preparing for the Mini-Games and have poured all their money into it, they have skipped invitations to overseas tournaments this year.

Unfortunately the new green will not be ready in time for the games despite being fast-tracked because it is embedded with small stones that prevents a true playing surface. But they still have to work on it and fix it quickly so that it can be ready for future tournaments on the clubs calendar including in November when a group of around 180 bowlers and supporters mainly Australians are expected. Mani said the construction of the new green fulfils along-held dream of the bowling club and he credited the Mini Games and government assistance for helping to get it off the drawing board and become a reality. But the tight timeline and government processes left little room for overcoming hiccups to have it ready for the Mini Games. “It would have been good if we had had the green for 12 months.” But as for the Mini Games itself, the bowlers are on a high. “We can’t wait for it to begin,” he says.

Team Cook Islands shine in new uniforms

Chef de Mission, George George was very pleased with the outcome of the event.
"I cant say enough to thank Chris & Nana McKinley of Turtles Sportsware for our fantastic uniforms". The Uniforms included fluorescent Green Polo Shirts, Singlets and T.Shirts for training gearand for the official wear pareu dresses for the women and shirts for the men. We also have for our supporters, branded gears such as bottles, key rings and beer coolers which can be purchased at the Pacific Mini Games merchandise outlet at the Beachcomber building in Taputapuatea.
A showcase of the Pacific Mini Games theme song "share the moments" was also presented by composer Thomas Ngauru and his team of singers that amazed the crowd of supporters who attended.

Eddie Daniel leads boxers on Tahitian quest

Experienced Cook Islands welterweight boxing champion Eddie Daniel will lead a team of four boxers to participate in a tournament in Tahiti this month aspart of their preparations for the Pacific Mini Games in September.

Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu have also been invited to send boxers to the tournament as part of their preparations for the Pacific Mini Games.

The Cook Islands squad which will leave for Tahiti on Saturday 25 July comprises boxers Eddie Daniel (team leader), Marcus Jack, Matthew Titoa, and Osolei Akai (aka Hagai) as well as a manager and a coach. The manager is boxing association president Tupou Faireka and the national boxing coach is Tom Marsters (not the Leader of the Opposition) who once ran a boxing club in the South Island of New Zealand.

While the Tahitians are paying the expenses of four boxers, the manager andt he coach, it's possible other officials such as Emile Cowan, Navy Epati, and Teava Matapo may pay their own way.

Government may also chip in to allow another boxer to join the squad. The Tahitians requested a fifth boxer Yves Obeda but their sponsorship is limited to the four boxers above plus manager and coach. Boxing secretary Charles Pitt says Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilkie Rasmussen is travelling to Tahiti on government business with Manihiki MP Apii Piho and he has offered to include a boxer in his delegation.

Pitt said the Cook Islands team could hold their own in Tahiti physically. But in a venue before 3,000 screaming Tahitian onlookers they might feel intimidated and be like a fish out of water. They needed to be mentally prepared. To help the squad seek the right attitude the association has asked former Rugby League great Kevin Iro to speak to them before they head off to Tahiti.

While Tupou Faireka is relishing the opportunity to manage the team in Tahiti, he admits looking further ahead that the preparations back home for the Mini Games in September are experiencing "a few hiccups".

For boxing bouts during the Mini Games, the lights in the auditorium are switched off and there is supposed to be one special light beaming down on the sparring fighters in the ring. Getting this light is a task boxing officials have grappled with the past four weeks. Importing the lighting framework will take too long to get here so it has to be made locally. Rarotonga Welding and Steel Construction Ltd can build it at a cost of around $700 to $900 but who is paying for the work is not yet clear.

The ring is another hiccup. The boxing ring for the Mini Games has been ordered from United States. "But we don't know when it is going to arrive," says Faireka.

A third hiccup for boxing is they don't yet know who will be in Rarotonga in September. "We can't put a programme together until we know who is confirmed and who is participating."

The fourth hiccup is the lack of qualified boxing judges and referees in Rarotonga. Only Joseph Haupini and Jim Little qualify but Jim Little may not be available. Others like Tom Marsters (Leader of the Opposition) need to be recertified. "I applied for funds four to five months ago for the secondment of a technical official Keith Walker (Secretary of the New Zealand Boxing Association) to run workshops for judges and referees. It hasn't come through. We're going to email judges and referees in Oceania to find who can come at their cost. When I am in Tahiti I will be asking them if they can come."

Boxing has assigned two deputies to Faireka: Mike Jonassen is looking after the equipment needs and Patricia Barton is looking after the accreditation and medical checks of the local boxers.

Some volunteers have been assigned for security and to mind boxers' possessions while they are competing. Other volunteers will be on hand to help other teams with their training, weighing and transport needs.

Because the Games are in Rarotonga, it is a rare opportunity for the boxing association to field boxers in all 11 divisions but they admit they may not achieve this.

Faireka says they will struggle to find boxers who can fight in the lower weight divisions of flyweight and featherweight. Former Cook Islands boxing star Richard Pittman offered to look at the Cook Islanders in his gymnasium in Wellington but the association has yet to hear from him in the two months since he left Rarotonga.

At the moment, nine boxers are training for the Games, two of them in Auckland. The association is confident five boxers will make the grade while the other four still need to do a little more to secure their place in the team for September.

[Postscript: CISNOC's Robert Graham says 11 countries have indicated they will compete in boxing: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu. Expect the major boxing countries Samoa, Tahiti and Fiji to send full squads. The other countries will probably send four or five boxers on average.

Athletics - Cook Islands

Ina Masters is the competition manager for the Cook Islands Athletics team, Ina is also the President for the Athletics Cook Islands and the Executive Vice President of CISNOC. Ina’s involvement in Athletics began in 1995 when she started coaching school children in the throwing area and from there up to now Ina’s still in athletics and still loving assisting sporting in the Cook Islands.

In Athletics we are looking at approximately 35 athletes, so far there are 15 in track and 15 in the field events. Out of stadia (road race events 10km and half marathon 16 km and also the walk 20 km men and women) we are looking at another 5 for these events.

We have upcoming stars Daniel Tutai, javelin thrower, who has just come back from a World Youth Championship in Italy and he was placed 8th. Tereapii Tapuki discuss thrower has an Oceania Ranking as No. 2.

The team members are training in Aitutaki and being coached by Teaia Parima and Pi David.

The coaches in Rarotonga are Harmon Pou, Ake Hosea, John Teiti, Mr Dong, Mr Lee, and Ms Chow (Tiare).

Adopt a country - Mangaia School - Tokelau

Danielle Cochrane has just returned from advisory work carried out by the Education Ministry in the Mangaia School and is giving us a feedback with the “Adopt a Country Programme”.
Mangaia School has been assigned Tokelau as their Pacific Mini Games country and the teachers and the children are working together to gather information about Tokelau. In Social Science they are teaching the history of the Games and also the history of the country that they are adopting.
Tekau Daniel is the teacher in charge of the library and assisted the children with setting up their display for the WYNC and the PMG09. In Home Economics they are looking at the food in Tokelau and also traditional sports that is played there. In English the children are writing poems for these two events and about Tokelau.
The children are excited about these two sporting events to be held in Cook Islands, even though they are in the Outer Islands, they are getting involved.

Triathlon Team Cook Islands

The line up of Triathlon Team Cook Islands for the Pacific Mini Games is looking like the usual top five triathletes of Rarotonga.
Competition Manager Kevin Henderson says gold was probable for the Palau Mini Games if only they had female athletes in the team events. The three favorites for the team at the Cook Islands Pacific Mini Games are Rangi Apera, Apii Napa and Jennie George though not yet confirmed, Team Cook Islands Triathlon is very capable of achieving silver and bronze in the team event and given the motivation, they may surprise everyone and take the gold.
Henderson was of the option if Jennie George had another year of swimming under her belt; she could have come home with a bronze medal from the Samoan Pacific Games.
The French Polynesian women of New Caledonia and Tahiti may be getting on in years, but they are still very competitive. But on a positive note, Henderson is confident Team Cook Islands Triathlon is definitely in the running for a medal at the Pacific Mini Games.
Again unconfirmed, the favoured male trio for the games appears to be Thomas Henderson, Roland Neururer and Geoff Stoddart.
Henderson's son Thomas was a bronze medalist at the Palau Mini Games. He says that is always hard competing against New Caledonia and Tahiti. These two countries tend to use the games to boost younger athletes in their development process mentored by their top experienced athletes.
The individual events could be battled out between New Caledonia and Tahiti, but in front of a home crowd, the adrenalin could boost the pride to battle for gold for our local heroes.
The event will start from the Western Marina of Avatiu Harbour with the swim, cycle section is two circuits from the wharf start line to Pokoinu Rd, around the are metua in Nikau at the back of the airport,to the Avatiu round-a-bout, back towards the start line and finishing at the start line on the second time around. Off the bike and into running starts for three circuits of the running section from the harbor to the Catholic burial ground and back; finishing on the third leg back at the harbour start line.
Terry Sheldrake and Juliet Fahey from New Zealand are the technical delegates, with Sheldrake as the race referee.

Pacific Mini Games Cook Islands on Tagata Pasifika TVNZ

Nikki Suilepa of the Tangata Pasifika visits Rarotonga and updates on the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.

Imanuela Akatemia at opening

Students of Immanuela Akatemia School, Chanel Robati (L) and Hinano Hosking ® eagerly awaited the arrival of their overseas guests from Northern Ireland at the Official Opening of WYNC. They were in the charge of their teacher, Maureen Goodwin who held a sign in case she got lost in the crowd.

Dress rehearsal for netball champs

Over two hundred volunteers and onlookers, eager to see the building firsthand, spread around the huge auditorium for a different spectators’ view after checking out every nook and cranny.
Volunteer timekeepers were without the electronic controls for the scoreboard, but they made do with digital clocks to keep track of the game between the men’s and the probable team for the Pacific Mini Games.
The ball girls were involved as they were given their instructions by competition manager Patsy Hocking.
Testing, testing, testing … yes even the announcers for the games had to rehearse their part as explained by Tua Pittman. There is a schedule tobe followed from the opening games, through the pool games and on to the finals.
People identified to be MCs during the games include Tua Pittman, Janette Browne, Clee Marsters, Akaiti Puna and Mona Mato with Sean Willis keeping a watchful eye on the audio systems while the WYNC games are on. As well as providing music interludes Sean also has the responsibility of keeping up with the programme, especially synchronising playing various national anthems as required.
The host organisers will continue with preparations until the opening of the games on Monday 10 August with the Cook Islands versus Wales game, the only pool game to be played that day.
From Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 August, pool games will be played on two courts in the arena with Sunday being a rest day.
The quarter finals start on Monday 17 August, the semi finals on Tuesday, the play-offs for placings 9-12 on Wednesday and the play-offs for placings 1-8 on Thursday ending with the grand final and closing ceremony on Thursday evening.

Telecom Sports Arena handed over

On Friday 31 July 2009 the Chinese builders handed over the multi sports centre to the Cook Islands. The building will be known as the Telecom Sports Arena for the next three years, as part of a sponsorship deal. Invited guests included the Queen's Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin and the deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate. A prayer from the local pastor was followed by the signing of the handover documents by Cook Islands Investment Corporation chairman Tapi Taio, CEO John Tini, and two CCECC representatives Zhongning Zhao and Mr Liu. Local MP andminister of sports Ngamau Munukoa gave an emotional address thanking the workers who have become part of the Nikao community. After the 'ribbon' cutting everyone went into the arena where the Nikao village cultural troupe performed. Ushers then demonstrated the retractable seating which is very quick to deploy.

Mini Pacific Games 2009 Rarotonga Cook Islands

21ST SEPTEMBER TO 2ND OCTOBER, 2009

It's the biggest event in the Cook Islands for 24 years with teams from 22 countries all over the Pacific region descending on Rarotonga to take part! And it promises to be not only a spectacle of sport, but a huge celebration of Cook Islands life. So if you're planning a visit to the Islands in 2009, here's a once in a lifetime opportunity to make that trip even more special.

CONCH SHELLS, COSTUME AND NOSE FLUTES SAY "KIA ORANA"

When the games open on Monday, 21st of September, 2009 teams from the competing nations will be led in to a brand new sports stadium in Rarotonga by colourfully dressed locals from across all of the Cook Islands. A traditional challenge will be voiced by a local taunga (island chief) as the teams enter.

And there will be plenty of singing, dancing and drumming because the Island "chaperones" will be teams from the Cook Islands annual cultural competition, Te Maeva Nui. That fiercely competed event has been moved this year to the preceding week of the Games so that as many Islanders as possible can enjoy and play a part in the sporting spectacular.

More than a thousand nose flutes are being crafted, although it's not clear yet when and how they will play a part in the ceremonies...but they will!

And so too will the ancient, haunting sound of conch shells being blown. They'll be used in the opening ceremony and to call winning competitors in the Games to the podium to receive their medals.

COMPETING NATIONS

Marshall Islands Kiribati (including Gilbert and Ellis Islands) Niue Cook Islands Guam Micronesia American Samoa Norfolk Island Palau Northern Mariana Islands Solomon Islands Tokelau Tonga Tuvalu Wallis and Futuna Fiji French Polynesia Nauru New Caledonia Papua New Guinea Samoa Vanuatu (including New Hebrides)

THE SPORTING SPECTACLE

Teams will participate in 14 different sports: athletics, boxing, golf, lawn bowls, netball, rugby 7s, rugby league, sailing, squash, table tennis, tennis, touch, triathlon, Va'a (canoeing), and weightlifting.

The host country team is likely to feature athletes such as Gordon Heather (pictured left) who is the fastest man in the Cook Islands. He can cover 100 metres in just over 11 seconds, as he proved at the Beijing Olympics. And 19 year old Sam Pera Jnr (right) is the Islands' leading weightlifter with Olympic and Commonwealth Games experience behind him.

PURPOSE BUILT STADIUM

Today a huge piece of land at Nikao on Rarotonga is a construction site, but in months it will be home to a huge, purpose built indoor sports stadium...albeit a controverial one because of the amount of money being spent and where that money's coming from. The first sod was cut (left) and the foundation stone laid on 23 September, 2008 after months of argument about the funding. The Chinese government is providing a low cost loan of almost NZ$14 million (approx. UK£5m, US$7/4m, 5.8m Euros) to the Cook Islands government to pay for the building.

And this is an artist's impression of what the stadium will look like when it's finished. The target date for completion is the end of June. It'll be used first for the world youth netball championships in July.

CONTROVERSY OVER COSTS AND CORAL

The cost of staging the games is spiralling, and islanders are going to have to pick up the bill. The Government minister responsible for the event, Wilkie Rasmussen says another NZ$6 million (UK£2.33m, US$3.43m, 2.59m Euros) will be needed, bringing the total bill to NZ$9 (UK£3.5m, US$5.14m, 3.88m Euros) . That's three times the original estimate.

Meanwhile, there's growing controversy over a request from the Cook Islands Canoeing Association to remove coral from Muri lagoon on Rarotonga... probably the most photographed spot in the whole of the Islands (right). The Association say it would be an obstacle to the course they need to build. But environmentalists and island residents are concerned about the potential effects on the lagoon and its marine life.

FIND OUT MORE

This page will be updated regularly with the latest information about the Pacific Games 2009.

The official website for the games is being revamped. It's not worth visiting at the moment as there have been no updates for weeks, so this page is the most complete and up to date information available on the internet.