Team Samoa gears up for Vanuatu

By Ulimasao Fata 15 November 2017, 12:00AM

Team Samoa will be competing in 11 sports at the upcoming Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu next month.

This was confirmed by the Team Samoa General Manager for the Vanuatu Mini Games and Commonwealth Games, Tuala Mathew Vaea, yesterday.

A press conference was held at S.A.S.N.O.C’s headquarters at Tuana’imato where the announcement was made.

The 11 sports include archery, athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, judo, para athletics, rugby 7s, table tennis, tennis and weightlifting.

Tuala revealed that S.A.S.N.O.C. would host a seminar next week as part of their preparations.

“The main purpose of our seminar next week Monday here is to inform and prepare athletes, coaches and team managers that will be travelling to Vanuatu about few game aspects,” he said.

The seminar focuses on the code of conduct in drug testing procedures, roles and responsibilities of team managers and coaches, expectations of athletes as well as feedback and evaluation after the seminars.

“Compliance is one of the most challenging aspects through the National Olympic Committee of our Participating sports the National Federations,” Tuala said.

“Compliance in terms of critical information and access to computer and technology for athletes submitting their information in order to meet deadline of host nation is a challenging aspect because not all our athletes can access to computers and technology.”

Tuala added that selection was also another challenge.

“It’s a challenging aspect in trying to finalize the teams and how do each teams look like and the management.

“Positive outing from our preparations is having the right athlete for the games and understanding the network of working together with team managers and coaches.”

Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee, Chef De Mission Nynette Sass, said Team Samoa for the Vanuatu Mini Games will be travelling separately.

“The sports teams playing on the first week will be leaving on the 3rd of December while teams competing in the second week will be travelling on the 9th of December.”

Apart from the Pacific Mini Games, Team Samoa has also started their preparations for the Commonwealth Games in April, 2018, Youth Olympics in Argentina, South Pacific Games and the 2019 Olympic Games.

For the Commonwealth Games, Samoa will compete in shooting, lawn bowls, weightlifting, swimming, boxing and rugby 7s.

By Ulimasao Fata 15 November 2017, 12:00AM
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