Sporting events in the Cook Islands

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Cooks, PNG and Fiji coaches look forward to sevens comp start today

Thu
1 Oct

Cook Islands rugby sevens team assistant coach Terry Piri may have had to drop out of the competition that starts today because of a knee injury, but he won’t accept anything but a gold medal performance from the team.

Piri along with Fiji’s coach Iliesa Tanivula, and PNG coach Willie Rikis fronted a press conference yesterday to talk about the challenges their teams will face on the field.

The Cook Islands league team’s silver medal finish on Tuesday has boosted the mor-ale of the local sevens boys, says Piri.

“So we gotta get a medal and it’s gotta be gold.”

Although Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are viewed as the teams to beat in this competition, Piri staunchly declared his team doesn’t fear any of them.

He admits, as the underdogs, the Cook Islands team is faced with a big challenge but it will draw on the experience of the likes of NZ based player Koiatu Koiatu to get ahead.

Piri says after tearing a knee ligament about three weeks ago in the finals of the local rugby union competition, he was still hoping for a full recovery to be able to compete at the Mini Games.

“I made the decision to pull out of the team because I wanted someone in there who could give 100 percent.”

He’s confident the team will do well without him anyway and is proud to have a coach-ing role.

When Piri was asked what the Cook Island’s strategy will be on the field, he said, “We’re just going to take the ball and run.”

Tanivula has his work cut out for him with the Fiji team after taking over from former coach and now technical assistant to PNG’s team, Waisale Serevi, in January.

He says there is a lot of expectation from home for Fiji to come away with the gold at the games, considering sevens is one of its major sports codes.

Tanivula says Fiji will play game by game in the sevens competition, keeping the team’s focus on winning one game at a time.

Rikis says having Serevi provide advice to the PNG sevens team has been a real plus, especially since most of their players have never been away from home before.

He says there’s been a recent redevelopment of sevens in PNG and Serevi’s been a big part of finding new talent.

Tanivula, who retired from his career in rugby in 2004, says the games competition helps Pacific neighbours develop the sport.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of talent in the Pacific islands. We need these competitions to show the flare and physicality in our game. I look forward to the Pacific rivalry on the field,” he said.

For the record

Thu
1 Oct

Double medalist Mau George has emerged from obscurity during the Pacific Mini Games and made a name for himself as a talented all-round athlete.

He’s pictured below with a Samoan tackler around his legs during the league sevens on Monday, in which he won a silver medal, after winning bronze in the shot put last Friday (not in the discus, as stated by CINews, although he did compete in discus).

Olympic judge rates Aitutaki

Fri
2 Oct

International and world sailing icon Ralph Roberts says the Aitutaki lagoon is the absolute paradise of sailing venues. 09093092

The head judge at the PMG sailing regatta is an icon of world yachting who recently had a new school building named in his honour in Auckland.

Just a few weeks before he left for the Cook Islands and the sailing venue at Aitutaki, the NZ prime minister John Key performed the formal naming ceremony by unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion at Takapuna Grammar School, on Auckland’s North Shore.

Ralph Roberts started sailing in Bayswater close to the Takapuna school, in Z-class, before teaming up with Geoff Smale to win the 1958 Prince of Wales Cup in the International 14-foot class.

Then followed Olympic representation in the Finn class at the 1960 Olympics, in the Flying Dutchman class as a reserve in 1964, and as the Flying Dutchman representative, again skippered by Geoff Smale in the 1968 Olympics.

In international sailing administration, he has served on two Olympic juries as an international judge, and was also an international umpire.

He is currently a member of the ISAF Review Board and an Area L Councillor to ISAF, as well as being a member of two of the international bodies’ youth committees.

He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by SPARC earlier this year.

Ralph says he has thoroughly enjoyed his time at Aitutaki, saying it is possibly the best sailing venue anywhere in the world.

Couldn’t have asked for more

Sat
3 Oct

Chef de mission George George says he couldn’t have asked for more from Team Cook Islands during its Pacific Mini Games campaign.

After pulling in 15 golds – one for each of the stars on the national flag – George says it was a real team effort to get what they did.

“I don’t know how to express it in words but I salute each and every athlete who took part in these mini games. To the medal winners, I congratulate you. But it wasn’t just the medalists, it was everyone, even those who did not win medals.

“Some athletes have put their bodies on the line and I couldn’t have asked for any more.”

George says the Cooks has shown, that per population, it punches above its weight in sporting events around the region.

“My dream as chef de mission is that I want the Cook Islands to be as competitive as possible. I want Team Cook Islands to be a threat when we turn up to future games, not a pushover.”

George, who has attended South Pacific Games since the 1980s, says that one of the things he has found with this team is the youthfulness of many of the athletes.

“During my day, you only got into the team if you had a moustache or beard,” he jokes. “Now there are so many young athletes – they’re getting younger and younger but I am pleased at what we got at the end of the day.

“I hope that these games have opened their eyes and that they go on to do well at future games.”

He says yesterday’s welcome for the sailors at Rarotonga airport was a very emotional moment, and says he has mixed feelings about leaving the games village at Titikaveka.

George says he is also sad about Turtles Sportswear walking away from sponsoring sports.

“Turtles has done us proud in the past and we have been the best looking athletes as long as I can remember, when donning the Cook Islands colours. I believe that our success at these games has been due to the support received from sponsors such as Turtles, and hope that Turtles and Cook Islands sport can look to patching up their relationship in the years to come.”

Turtles sponsor Helema

Sat
3 Oct

Turtles owners Chris and Nana Mckinley have signed up Helema Williams for 2010 as part of a five-year scholarship deal with Sailing Cook Islands.

They are investing $30,000 over five years with Sailing Cook Islands and the first year of the funding will go to Helema.

“Helema should be used by the country as a role model as not only is she an amazing sailor but a great person as well,” Turtles owner Chris McKinley said in a statement yesterday.

“The people of Manahiki and the Cook Islands should be very proud of the girl and support her in the future. Also young Teau Mckenzie and the boys in the team are very good ambassadors and outstanding sailors in their own right.”

The Turtles owners were flown to Aitutaki for the last two days of Mini Games sailing and were blown away by the talent on show at the lagoon in Aitutaki.

“I guess what amazed us the most was the politeness, dedication and humbleness of Team Cook Islands Sailing.

“These guys are from all over the Cook Islands which was refreshing to see. They went out of their way to thank us for their racing gear donated by Surf City (Turtles) and you could tell they really loved it. It put faith back into us that we had done the right thing by sponsoring Team Cook Islands.”

Turtles, the official merchandiser, is one of the largest sponsors of the games.

Earlier this week McKinley had said he was so disappointed by the bad treatment he had from Mini Games organisers that he was pulling his sponsorship, but he has decided to continue to back one of the sports he loves.

McKinley says he was one of the lucky ones who got to see the sailing event this week.

“It was a setting like no where else in the world. The lagoon was the best venue to hold a sailing event and the Aitutakian people showed the country how to do it in style. The other countries sailing in the regatta were blown away by the beauty of the island and the hospitality of the people. Also the medal ceremonies were very unique as they used the vaka as the podium and the athletes and were ferried out by boat to the vaka.

“While others gathered around on shore and in their boats to watch, it was a medal ceremony like no other. It had the mana and tradition that was very special to all of who were involved in this event.

“To the people of Aitutaki – Mike, Junior, Tango, Rere, the Adopt a Country kids and all the locals involved – hold your heads high, you have set a new standard in how to do things the right way. Well done! Also a big thanks to Air Rarotonga and Pacific Resort for everything.”

“Finally Turtles would like to say again to the sailors thank you so much for letting us be involved in such a great event and we are proud now to be associated with a friendly talented group of champions.”

“Trust me, you haven’t seen the last of Helema and her team mates on the world stage.”

Wheelchairs clash for Te Vaerua tonight

Sat
3 Oct

Wheels and wills will clash tonight at the charity wheelchair rugby exhibition.

Visting Kiwi athletes will be playing rugby tonight against visiting and local teams including Prime Minister Jim Marurai.

Marurai will be taking part in the action along side Kevin Iro, Smiley Heather, Roy Mata and other local celebrities in the team.

Both teams will be challenging Samoan players from the touch and sevens games, including the team’s trainer Etu Tusitala who says he can already feel his biceps pumping.

Both the Samoan and New Zealand teams can’t wait to take on our prime minister but they promise to take it easy.

The New Zealand team is made up of four players including Cook Islander Clayton Utia who urges everyone to try out the game.

They will be teaching their opponents the basics of the game at 12.30 today to get ready for tonight’s showdown.

The exhibition will be raising funds for the Te Vaerua Community Rehabilitation Centre in Arorangi.

The games will wheel off at 5pm and are open to the general public.

Tickets will be sold at the door at $10 for adults and $5 for children.

The winning smiles

Mon
5 Oct

Tennis beauties Davina Hosking and Kairangi Vano with their winning smiles. 09100401

Cook Islands – your beautiful smiles captured the heart of the nations that came to our island for the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.

As we wind down and go back to our normal lives, this week’s pages will be a story of what took place around the island as athletes prepared for their events, nations gathered for prayer, people cleaning the schools, the eating areas and those transporting everyone around, even those of our visitors that just went out to enjoy the beauty of our paradise.

Everywhere the PMG09 media news team went, our people were right there with our pacific neighbours mingling, entertaining, being hospitable, assisting them in any way possible and ensuring that their short stay would be a memorable occasion.

They came to compete and when they left it didn’t matter whether they won or lost, the people of Cook Islands won their hearts.

Genesis 18:23 – And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? V32 � Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

We are special Cook Islands, God protected us and our brothers and sisters that were with us, let us rejoice and be glad in Him (Jesus).

Midas touch man

Mon
5 Oct

Team Cook Islands Chef de Mission George George congratulates and thanks our visiting journalist and photographer Gray Clapham from New Zealand for a job well done. 09100441

Kiwi journalist Gray Clapham shares some of the moments that made his Pacific Mini Games experience unforgettable.

Come and help me out in Rarotonga during the Pacific Mini Games said old friend and Cook Island News editor John Woods.

“It will be a holiday for you.”

Like the Tui adverts say, yeah right!

In a jet-lagged and vodka-blurred first morning haze, I joined the CINews reporting and production team and was given my duties. As well as assisting with page layout, I was assigned my sports codes to cover. I was given golf, tennis and bowls.

I was also introduced to my motor scooter and taught the island’s road rules. I’ve yet to find the rule for overtaking Big Mama and Pillion Baby doing 35kph along the centre line. But hey, what’s the hurry. It’s all about slowing down, getting in the Island groove.

That idea was soon shot through when I realised I had to zoom daily out to the tennis centre and golf club at Nikao, rush back to town to get a few bowls photos, out again to the golf club for the final holes of the day’s play, back in time to download the photos and write the stories. I’ve never worked so hard in my life.

If you were one of the locals who cursed the papa’a undertaking you with a backpack full of camera gear, PMG accreditation neck-tag flapping in the slipstream, that was me.

The days flashed by in a blur but some of the incidents and events I witnessed will forever be sharp in my memory.

One of the first things I had to do was fly in a Cessna aircraft, with its door off, over the PMG opening ceremony to get the aerial photograph that appeared on the front page the next morning.

Colleagues asked me, how was the flight? My only real memory is of sitting sideways with my feet out the door and freaking out that my expensive slip-on shoes were going to be sucked off my feet and plummet into the BCI Stadium.

I have to admit I did enjoy the golf. It is my big passion.

Going to the Rarotonga Golf Club to observe competitors having a practice round, I started freakishly predicting the outcome of several PMG events.

My first pictures from the golf showed the Cook Islands men’s team marching down the fairway and young Elmay Viking practising her swing. The men marched right on to win the team’s gold medal plus the individual medal and Elmay ended up with double gold for herself and the women’s team.

I really do want to thank Papa Bruce Graham, one of nature’s true gentlemen, for making me feel real welcome at the club and tipping me off to a few interesting titbits of news. The golf was an absolute buzz for me. Winning all those medals – four gold and a bronze – made reporting the stories a real treat.

It began a pattern that was to continue with all the codes I covered. I reckon I had the Midas touch as all the sports I touched turned to gold.

Covering the tennis was a learning curve. Apart from playing a bit of social tennis, usually centered around beer drinking at barbecues, I didn’t know much about the protocol of a serious tennis tournament.

After only five minutes at the Nikao National Tennis Centre, I was given a bollocking by both the venue manager and the head referee for walking on to the court during play. Later, when I tried standing on an umpire’s chairs for a better shot, I was ordered to leave the venue.

I apologised and promised to behave in future and soon got into the rhythm of the sport spending long hours at the venue, risking my life each time I climbed the scaffold tower, squinting down my telephoto lens to capture the tennis stars in action.

As a result the tennis received full coverage daily and once again my Midas touch was at work. Against the odds the Cook Islands women’s tennis squad won a pile of gold, silver and bronze which made covering the final two days of the competition an absolute blast.

I can now confess that I was also ordered off the athletics track at the BCI Stadium – for not having a media bib – and was asked by an official to stop walking on to the greens at the lawn bowls.

However, they must have been pleased to see me there as the golden touch was also at work at the bowls. I took a “predictive” photo of the women’s triples team who won gold the next day along with numerous other pictures of local bowlers who went on to win medals.

I totally enjoyed the atmosphere at the bowling club. It was the one venue where I really saw the family of Pacific nations enjoying their individual cultural customs while sharing an obvious ethnic heritage.

An embarrassing incident at the bowls occurred when I asked a lady playing for the Papua New Guinea bowls team if she spoke English.

“Of course I do, my dear man,” she answered, “I’m from Auckland.”

I also had to laugh when, after the word went out that the bowlers were not allowed to smoke during play, I spotted several “addicts” sneaking quick puffs from cigarettes passed to them by “accomplices” stationed outside the wire mesh.

Thank you bowling people, particularly Phillip Tangi, your friendliness made the job a pleasure.

The highlight of my Games coverage was the day I flew the 220 kilometres to Aitutaki to photograph and report on the sailing regatta there.

The plan was to catch the media boat at 12.30pm as I was told there was no other way out to the event based on Akaiami island, some 20 minutes by boat across “one of the most magnificent coral lagoons in the world”.

But somehow I ended up bludging a ride at the airport in a truck with some guys from Wallis and Futuna in a whirlwind ride around the main island with a charismatic man called Tango who I later found out was the Mayor of Aitutaki.

At the O’otu landing I hitched a ride on the day cruise boat Titi-ai-tonga with a group of tourists heading out for a day on the lagoon.

Just as I looked out across the lagoon and thought, “Wow. I’ve got 20 minutes to relax and take in all this stunning tropical beauty”, cellphones, including my own, started ringing all over the boat.

It was the first news we had that an earthquake had caused a major Pacific tsunami that had already devastated parts of Samoa, taking many lives, and was heading our way.

Here we were on the lagoon of a low coral atoll, possibly in the path of reported seven metre waves.

The adrenaline was pumping for a while but we soon received reports that the waves had reached the main island where the surge had drained the Avatiu harbour and we worked out that the surge must have passed Aitutaki by without even a noticeable ripple on the turquoise blue mirror of the lagoon’s surface.

Relax again, take in the scenery. Then someone received a phone call to say the wave was now heading for a place called Gisborne, on the east coast of New Zealand.

I happen to have a home right on the beach at Gisborne and a call to my wife revealed there was a civil defence tsunami alert and people had been warned to stay away from the beaches with the wave due to arrive in about 20 minutes.

The phone went dead soon after, so I spent a worrisome afternoon photographing the sailing until later my wife reported the tsunami alert had gone by without incident.

It has been a real privilege to be part of the Cook Islands News special reporting of the Pacific Mini Games. I wonder if the people of the islands appreciate the huge effort the newspaper management and staff made to daily produce a complete and thorough coverage of this “once in a lifetime event”.

Editor John Woods treated it as if we were a metropolitan newspaper daily covering the Olympic Games. All credit to his dedicated, gutsy and talented reporting team and the office and production staff who dealt with the long hours and extra stress.

Special thanks to John Woods for giving me this opportunity and to Liz Woods for her lively good company, doing my laundry each day and supplying us with gourmet evening meals, usually well after midnight. Also a fond farewell to my dear God-son, Jack Woods, who is now my newest best friend and accomplice in mischief. I’ll teach you how to get around the rules, Jack. And cheers Matariki, you were a supportive colleague and your enthusiasm was inspiring.

As I write this debrief, I am waiting to fly over the island one more time, with the door off again, to take aerial photographs of the closing ceremony.

This time I’m taking my shoes off. So if you spotted the Air Rarotonga Cessna over the stadium and saw a pair of bare feet poking out, that was me. I love you Cook Islands. I am a patriot. And I believe I am a better person for having been here. Kia orana.

Editor: Gray Clapham duly filed a swag of superb aerial photos from the closing ceremony, and after a weekend of relaxation returns today to Gisborne and his business as a photographer, designer and communications consultant (www.designarts.co.nz).

Games curtain comes down

Mon
5 Oct

Prime minister Jim Marurai had the last say on the Pacific Mini Games when it drew to an end on Friday night.

After performances by local cultural dance groups, the symbolic handing over of the mini games flag took place, with the flag being given to Wallis & Futuna, where the 2013 games will be staged.

The flag was lowered and folded, and carried to the front of the grandstand by the Boys’ Brigade party, and handed to a delegation from the Cook Islands Sports & National Olympic Committee, which included senior vice president, George Paniani. He passed it on to secretary general David Boyd on behalf of the Pacific Games Council, who then handed it over to a representative from Wallis & Futuna.

Boyd said a high level of competition was seen at the games, and he congratulated Team Cook Islands for its exceptional performance.

“I’m sure the whole nation will rejoice in their achievements.”

And with the new infrastructure built for the games, Boyd urged authorities to allow easy access for Cook Islanders to the facilities.

Boyd thanked the prime minister and government, CISNOC and the organising committee, volunteers and the school communities for their support for the games, and the country as a whole for its hospitality.

“You have made these games a memorable one for everyone.”

Prime minister Marurai said the spirit of competitiveness of the sportsmen and women over the past two weeks had been a joy to watch.

“Your individual and team contribution to sports in the Pacific has done us proud.”

As hosts, Marurai hoped that the experience for athletes had left a positive and lasting impression.

He also thanked all those who had contributed to the success of the games – from the games board to organizers, volunteers, sponsors and the community.

“Your energy and dedication has helped us focus on the real benefits of this 8th Pacific Mini Games.”

In declaring the games closed, the prime minister called upon sportspeople in the Pacific to assemble in Wallis & Futuna to participate in the 9th Pacific Mini Games.

“May you display cheerfulness and harmony so that the spirit of our Pacific family of nations may be carried out with greater eagerness, courage and honour for the good of humanity and peace of the world.”

The closing prayer ceremony conducted by Bishop Tutai Pere was shared by representatives from the Samoan and Tongan delegations.

There was a moment’s silence in memory of those who have lost their lives in the tsunami tragedy this week.

Closing moments

Mon
5 Oct

Photojournalist Gray Clapham took this aerial photo of the Pacific Mini Games closing ceremony on Friday from an Air Rarotonga light aircraft. Our thanks to Ewan Smith and his team for their assistance. A full range of new aerial pictures of various Rarotonga sites can be viewed on the photo terminal in reception at Cook Islands News. 09100292

Olympian returns to help athletes

Mon
5 Oct

Former Vanuatu Olympian Mary Mahuk is back in the Cook Islands – 24 years after she won silver during the 1985 Pacific Mini Games here.

While the athletics track is well behind her having retired from competition in 2003, she still has a passion for sports. Mahuk is currently the Oceania development officer for archery and is the secretary general for Oceania National Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission (ONOC).

Mahuk has fond memories of competing in Rarotonga as it was her second international competition.

The then 16-year-old helped her team claim silver in the 4x4 400m relay but later went on to break the games 400m record in Papua New Guinea. At 46 years of age, her Vanuatu national record still stands.

“I was really happy with the national results and was looking forward to coming here,” Mahuk says. “I just wanted a challenge I didn’t know who the Pacific champion was, I didn’t care – I just wanted competition.”

Brigitte Hardel of New Caledonia was the record holder for the 400m before Mahuk broke it in 1991 at PNG. She further broke it during the Olympic Games having competed at Barcelona, Los Angeles and Sydney and at several athletic world championships.

“My record stood for 12 years,” she says.

A knee problem forced her to retire winning her last medal, a silver, at the Melanesian games in Fiji.

She became involved with archery development after coaching track and field and working at the National Olympic Committee (NOC) in Vanuatu as a sporting development officer.

“There’s history of archery in Pacific countries,” Mahuk says. “For some locals archery has been part of their daily life, with fishermen or hunters going out with bows and arrows.

“We’re just offering this up to Olympic standard.”

She says there are good medal prospects for islands and countries should really invest in like they have for track and field. “It will be available during the 2011 games in New Caledonia.”

The Cook Islands has an inactive archery federation which Mahuk is offering to assist with development.

Her other role with the ONOC Athletes’ Commission brings her back to Rarotonga.

“We’ve been promoting the message of be a leader through setting up an Athletes’ Commission; play safe to prevent HIV and AIDS and play true by promoting anti-doping.

She is encouraging every country to form a commission to be the voice of athletes when executive decisions by NOC.

“There’s really no one looking for their views and needs in National Olympic Committee,” she says.

The ONOC Athletes’ Commission can assist with many issues from uniform grievances to training and preparing for life after sports.

Mahuk says under the International Olympic Committee charter, every country must have a commission in place.

Operational changes sought for Delhi games

Mon
5 Oct

A very worried Commonwealth Games Federation president, Michael Fennell, will arrive in Delhi this week looking to fast-track operational changes designed to deliver a successful Commonwealth Games in October 2010.

Fennell will preside over meetings of the CGF’s executive board and all member nations, and will look to advise them of agreed strategies to address the Federation’s issues about Delhi’s preparedness to host the Games.

With only one year to go, Fennell is intensely aware of the tight time line that faces the Delhi organisers.

The games expect to draw 8000 athletes from 71 nations, but India’s preparations have been labeled a ‘shambles’ six years after it won the games hosting.

The CGF president wrote to the board of the organising committee in Delhi on September 13, expressing serious concern about progress across key operational areas.

Fennell believes that the key to getting the games’ preparations back on track will be his meeting with Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.

“We still have a year to go, and it is possible to deliver a successful games,” Fennell said.

“The Indian government, as a co-signatory of the Host City contract, is committed to delivering a successful Games in 2010, and I know that Prime Minister Singh sees this as a matter of national pride and prestige for India.

“It would be wrong for us not to share our concerns about preparations for the Games directly with the government, as it has invested heavily in the infrastructure necessary for the Games and the operations of the organising committee.

“The challenges now facing the Games are enormous. Immediate changes will be required and, in particular, close attention to the many issues raised by the CGF’s coordination commission.

“Games-experienced personnel must be appointed immediately – people with a track record of delivering for major events - to lead key management, planning and operational roles.”

Fennell says these operational areas include accreditation, transportation, technology, ticketing, spectator services, protocol, press operations, communications, logistics and medical.

“We have seen good progress on venues, and while some remain behind schedule, I note the resolve of the governments of India and Delhi to deliver these quality venues in time for the games.”

See the joy on the children’s faces

Tue
6 Oct

The Games mascot had them clinging to him. Kuki is not going into retirement, however� more news to come on his new home. 09100515

When you look at all the goings on with the Pacific Mini Games 2009, you can never get past the children having a fabulous time, totally invigorated with their surroundings.

Kuki the mascot was an absolute hit with the children, they were always looking for cuddles and just clinging to any part of the mascot they could hold on to.

During the opening nations march, the children were oblivious to the grandeur of the occasion as they ran on to the tracks as athletes from different countries were giving out flags and blow-up hands.

The children of the Cook Islands were as much a part of the Games as everyone else. Even when the events were taking place on the athletics field, we had some youngsters under five running and making their long jumps on the sandpit, they had been watching and observing.

What a fine legacy that we will be passing on to the future of the Cook Islands, but what were the messages that our children are giving us? Have a look at the photos and judge for yourself.

PMG News Media

Special offer to volunteers

Tue
6 Oct

Solomon Islands girls said they loved Rarotonga. 09100506

To our Games Volunteers, on behalf of the Pacific Mini Games 2009 Committee, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your tireless efforts, dedication and hard work to ensure the smooth operation of the PMG09.

We were all impressed by the unity of the people of the Cook Islands as they worked under their supervisor, manager and director to make the Games an enjoyable experience.

Now comes the pleasant task, in recognition of our Games Volunteers, to confirm that we the committee have collect- ively agreed to give first option on the sale of equipment to you our volunteers on Friday October 9 at the National Auditorium.

Please ensure that you bring your accreditation with you in order to be eligible to purchase the items for sale.

The Games organisers are planning to host a thank you kai kai for all our hard working Games Volunteers – keep an eye on the paper for the venue, date and time.

God bless you all.

Mac Mokoroa

CEO – PMG09

Atiu league and netball revived

Tue
6 Oct

Organised sport is making a fresh start on Atiu.

Enuamanu launched its 2009 rugby league competition last Friday.

Rugby league has been dormant on Atiu for some time but with the whole island turning out to the official launch – it’s looking secure for the future.

Tutai Toru of Atiu reports that after formalities by Apii Porio, president of the Atiu Rugby League Association and Nooroa Teipo, president of the Atiu Sports Association it was game on.

It was also interesting to see the Atiu Netball Association joining in.

It really created a wonderful day of sporting activity.

The netball game for the day was between the Sunrise Netball Girls (Areora, Ngatiarua and Tengatangi) and the Sunset Netball Girls from Teenui and Mapumai.

It was enjoyable watching the competitiveness among the under 13, 16 and 19 age grade and the open grade from these clubs.

Nobody remembered the score, but looking at the faces of the netball players and the mamas on the sideline it was great to see netball revived again.

The performances were a bit patchy among the grades, but at the end of the day netball won.

The first rugby league match was between the Sunrise Warriors (Areora, Ngatiarua and Tengatangi) and the Sunset Warriors (Teenui and Mapumai).

Both clubs were able to secure three teams each – under 13, 16 and an open grade.

The game was played in the nines format.

There were plenty of under 13 players per club with similar turnouts for the under 16 and open grades.

The contest was fierce and there were some injuries but luckily with the amount of reserves available the contest continued to the end.

There were no winners except the launching of the 2009 rugby league competition on Atiu was a success.

Credit must go to the president Apii Porio and his executives. Plus to the referee Maara Tairi and his colleague and not forgetting the linesmen.

Appreciation must also go the national president Charles Carlson for the two sets of jerseys for the main game.

We still have our under 13 and 16 playing in bare skins and if you have a set available, please email me on toru12@atiu.net.ck – we need them out here.

Rain delays cricket start

Tue
6 Oct

The Rarotonga domestic cricket season was due to start last Saturday, but wet weather put a stop to all games.

The cancellation means that each team receives 2 ‘wash out’ points.

The Cook Islands Cricket executive supported by the council of clubs has revamped the senior club competition similar to how it was played a number of years ago.

“We need to be playing cricket matches conducive to providing aspiring players with the opportunity to develop their game to excel on the world stage,” says cricket president Oliver Syme.

The season consists of a straight round robin then teams are split into two pools according to their round robin positioning, culminating in play off and finals matches.

Lucky Topetai of the Tupapa club has just arrived back from the international tournament in Samoa and was disappointed not to be playing this weekend.

“You can’t do much about the rain, however we are all really keen to get into the season and for the guys who went to the Samoa tournament, there are certain aspects of our game we are wanting to develop throughout the season, so I will be keeping my fingers crossed for good weather this weekend,” says Topetai.

Red Cross gave warmth

Tue
6 Oct

Around 1600 blankets were provided by the Cook Islands Red Cross for the games villages around Rarotonga.

Pacific Mini Games’ accommodation manager Liz Ponga says that with the athletes from the Micronesian countries coming from much warmer temperatures, a last-minute SOS went out to try and source blankets.

“We ended up asking [CIRC secretary-general] Niki Rattle and Red Cross were able to provide the blankets at short notice for the athletes.”

Most blankets got around to the villages by Tuesday, September 22, and Ponga says the athletes have been appreciative of the blankets, especially those who were out in the rain on Wednesday, September 23.

“I would just like to thank Red Cross for their assistance for getting these blankets at short notice.”

Sevens spot opens up

Tue
6 Oct

Does your rugby sevens team have the winning factor?

If so, an opportunity has opened up in the International Sevens Tournament next month.

Regular international sevens fixture Bombay Hawks have had to pull out of this year’s Sevens in Heaven 20th anniversary tournament due to financial difficulties.

One of the nation’s best sevens players, Koiatu Koiatu, led the team to Rarotonga in 2004 2005, 2007 and 2008.

Koiatu has relocated to Australia but the club’s team manager vows that the team will be back again one day.

The Hawks’ withdrawal creates an opening for a men’s team interested in being a part of the anniversary tournament.

For more information ,please email info@destinationcookislands.com or call 22130.

UK teens report back

Wed
7 Oct

Mathew Bowcott and Gemma Martin of the Supporter 2 Reporter interview Tuvalu’s sprinter Asenate Manoa. 09092412

Young reporters file news and videos from Rarotonga

The Pacific Mini Games were well covered with the impressive journalistic skills of eight teenagers from England.

Wearing their bright blue t-shirts, the Supporter 2 Reporter group worked as hard as the athletes they reported on, staying up late completing their stories.

“Our time here has been fantastic, really brilliant and the kids have been working very hard,” supervisor Katy Atkinson said when they packed up at the weekend.

“They’ve been working in groups finishing off around 10 at night.”

Atkinson says they’ve been rewarded by the anticipation on the Radiowave site, where they’ve been uploading four to five videos each day.

Among the reports they filed were interviews with the chef de missions, giving an insight to young people becoming umpires, shadowing the athletes, as well as exploring the Cook Islands culture.

Daniel O’Hara from Manchester was even able to train with the Samoan gold medal winning rugby team.

“I did everything they did, they even showed me the haka,” O’Hara says. “The group was really friendly.”

Other interviews included talking to up and coming athletes who have the potential to compete in 2012 Olympics such as Samoan weightlifter Ele Opeloge and Solomon Islands runner Betty Babalu. They also followed Cook Islands discus thrower Tereapii Tapoki and Tokelau netballer Akenese Manea.

Even the tsunami alerts were able to give them a greater understanding of the Pacific.

“Our first reaction was to make sure the parents knew that everyone was safe as they heard it on the British News,” Atkinson says.

“For me it was made personal with our relationship with the Samoans. Seeing the effort they made after compared to other times and just watching them perform.”

O’Hara also was able to get a personal account of how team Samoa were dealing with the situation.

“Doing a report on Samoa had a feel what is going through in their heads, it makes it personal.”

This is the Supporter 2 Reporters first international trip and the young people have done well adapting to new surroundings and culture.

“We found approaching the public here is easier, they’re much friendlier,” O’Hara said. “We haven’t had that many people who didn’t want to talk, it’s been really good. It’s different at home, people say, ‘no’ and keep on walking.

A tour with Cook Islands tourism around Rarotonga also provided the British audience a sample of what this country offers. After two weeks of solid reporting the group flew home on Monday.

“I think it’s just been really hard work we’ve had a lot to do but seeing what we’ve done has been rewarding,” O’Hara said.

‘Supporter to Reporter (S2R) provides young people real-life learning opportunities in online sports reporting.

S2R is a project within Radiowaves, an internet network of youth in schools and centres around the UK and abroad. Around 20,000 pieces are created and produced on the site.

Their main purpose here was to study a range of cultural and educational exchanges between England’s northwest and Oceania in preparation for covering the London Olympics.

To check out their work, go to www.radiowaves.co.uk/supporter

Thanks from Kairangi

Wed
7 Oct

09100194

Kairangi Vano (right) would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge T&M Heather and the Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa for sponsoring her trip in April 2008. These two sponsors thought it fitting to bring back an ‘island girl’ who was starting to become known in the tennis world of New Zealand and to promote tennis in the Cook Islands.

Kairangi believes that with her sponsors bringing her back during that period, it uplifted her morale to achieve great things for the Cook Islands instead of just New Zealand.

Playing for the Cook Islands tennis team has been a tremendous joy for Kairangi and she believes that winning the gold for her country is the ultimate.

Cricketers beat Indonesia

Wed
7 Oct

The national cricket side celebrates a wicket against a very tough and experienced Vanuatu side at the East Asia-Pacific tournament in Samoa. 09100501

The Cook Islands national cricket side returned home last week from the East Asia-Pacific Tournament in Samoa with the tournament ‘team spirit’ award.

According to Cook Islands cricket manager Alister Stevic, this is the first time that a Pacific nation has been honoured with the team spirit award.

The local team of Cook Islands and New Zealand based squad members played five matches in Samoa where they won three games to place third in their tier competition.

The local team beat Indonesia and Tonga twice.

In total, eight international cricket teams gathered for the tournament in Samoa including Japan.

But the Cook Islands faced teams of similar standing to them including Indonesia, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

The Cooks got their campaign off to a great start beating Indonesia first up.

Batting first ,Indonesia started well reaching 1/48 until rain stopped play in the 15th over. Play resumed 2 hours later and the overs were reduced to 39.

Cook Islands applied early pressure on the Indonesians with Tino Etita and Davis Teinaki bowling too good for the key Indonesian opening batter who edged one through to slips.

Indonesia never recovered and as the pressure mounted the Indonesian batters resorted to risky shots.

Two further wickets fell in quick concession and an outstanding Patimai Ataera run out left the Indonesians struggling at 5/108.

Etita and Teinaki ripped through the lower order taking 5 for 21 runs, leaving the Cook Islands chasing 130 for victory.

The Cook Islands also started their batting positively with Etita picking up the man of the match award for his bowling and masterful display of controlled powerhouse hitting to reach 42.

Patimai Ataera and Chris Brown carried the side through with a solid 50 run partnership to take the Cook Islands to victory.

The Cooks then faced Samoa in their second match but went down against the host as their opposition’s line and length bowling restricted the otherwise consistent Cook Islands top order.

The Cook Islands turned their disappointment into a win against their third opponents from Tonga in what was a nail biting match.

At the death, Cook Islands needed 2-runs off 4 balls and they just managed to get the single with only 2 balls to spare through the hard work of Lucky Topetai and Wayken Punga.

Despite the narrow win over Tonga, the local boys still felt they could have performed better.

The team didn’t have much time to address their issues when they faced Vanuatu – an ex world cricket league 5 team.

Vanuatu made easy work of chasing the Cook Islands’ first innings score of 119 reaching it in the 17th over.

With the loss went the Cook Islands’ chances of making the finals and they had to play Tonga for 3rd and 4th spot. The Cooks beat Tonga to take third spot.

Manager Alister Stevic says though they can take a lot of positives from the tournament, he was nevertheless disappointed for the boys as they didn’t realise their full potential. “Hey, we have six new debutants in the side and 90 percent of the players will be available for the next tournament, so with that development and experience and an effective high performance programme, there are more positive signs ahead,” says Stevic.

For now the local players look forward to the start of the domestic season this Saturday.

Qualifier in Tahiti

Wed
7 Oct

Next month’s international rugby sevens tournament in Rarotonga will take on greater meaning, with a Federation of Oceania Rugby Union qualifying tournament in Tahiti the following week.

Cook Islands Rugby Union chief executive Ben Koteka says the Tahiti tournament on November 13 and 14 will be a qualifier for International Rugby Board tournaments in Wellington, Adelaide and Hong Kong next year.

With Fiji and Samoa invited to all IRB sevens tournaments in 2009-10, Koteka says the race will be on amongst teams like the Cooks, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Niue to secure spots for the IRB circuit.

A top finish will almost guarantee an invite to all three IRB tournaments, while the second-placed team should travel to Wellington on February 5-6, and Adelaide on March 20-21, 2010.

Tsunami football fundraiser

Wed
7 Oct

The Cook Islands Football Association will stage a tsunami football fundraiser at the CIFA complex in Matavera this weekend.

The funds raised from the soccer match and the sale of food and soft drinks, will assist those in American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga who were affected by the tsunami tragedy last week.

The Oceania Football under 20 women’s championship tournament was to be held in Auckland this week has now been postponed to mid-January 2010 due to the tsunami tragedy.

The Cook Islands together with teams from these three countries, along with New Zealand, had been scheduled to take part in the tournament.

The games on Saturday will be between the north east clubs on Rarotonga (Avatiu FC, Takuvaine FC, Tupapa FC & Matavera FC) and the west and south clubs (Nikao FC, Arorangi FC & Titikaveka FC) in both the senior women and senior men category which will kick off at 2.30pm and 4pm respectively.

The Cook Islands Football Association is asking all senior players from the seven clubs on Rarotonga, to turn up and support this worthy cause.

Everyone – please, a $3 donation at the gate.

Ka kite ra.

Sports News

Sporting news and events from Rarotonga, the Cook Islands and the Pacific.

Cooks, PNG and Fiji coaches look forward to sevens comp start today

For the record

Olympic judge rates Aitutaki

Couldn’t have asked for more

Turtles sponsor Helema

Wheelchairs clash for Te Vaerua tonight

The winning smiles

Midas touch man

Kiwi journalist Gray Clapham shares some of the moments that made his Pacific Mini Games experience unforgettable.

Games curtain comes down

Closing moments

Olympian returns to help athletes

Operational changes sought for Delhi games

See the joy on the children’s faces

Special offer to volunteers

Atiu league and netball revived

Rain delays cricket start

Red Cross gave warmth

Sevens spot opens up

UK teens report back

Young reporters file news and videos from Rarotonga

Thanks from Kairangi

Cricketers beat Indonesia

Qualifier in Tahiti

Tsunami football fundraiser