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.