After carrying her country’s flag at the Pacific Games Ceremony the night before, New Caledonian swimmer Charlotte Robin won the first gold medal of the Games for coming first in the Open Water 5km race at Mulifanua on Monday morning. New Caledonia bags first Gold . Four years ago at Papua New Guinea 2015 XV Pacific Games, New Caledonia swimmer Charlotte Robin won gold in the women's open water swimming. The biggest Pacific Games in history have been declared officially open in Samoa. More than 5000 athletes and team officials marched in last night's opening ceremony at Apia Park, as a packed house witnessed a three hour celebration of Samoan culture. And there was never any doubt who would get the loudest cheer from the Apia crowd. Meanwhile New Caledonia and Tahiti both had dual flag bearers at the opening ceremony, with the French, Kanak and Tahitian flags all recognised. The Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games officially opened on Sunday evening with a three-hour celebration of Samoan culture showcasing dance, legends and sport. The Opening Ceremony at Apia Park Stadium in Samoa's capital city was broadcast internationally, and was the first Pacific Games opening event to take place on a Sunday. Despite heavy rain earlier in the day, the weather remained dry for the evening, and the three-act ceremony attracted large crowds. History will be made in rugby league 9s at the Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games, with a women’s event being contested for the first time alongside the men’s competition over two days at Apia Park Stadium from Monday 8 July. Reflecting the rapid growth of Pacific women’s rugby league since the last Games, the women’s event will feature six countries – Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Solomon Islands. The United Nations (UN) and the Pacific Games have signed a partnership agreement worth $20,000 (US$7,619) to involve Team Samoa in promoting messages of violence against women and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) over the next two weeks. As one of the biggest hubs of the UN in the Pacific region, the UN wants to support the Games and contribute to its success, said Resident Coordinator, Simona Marinescu. Samoa's Ministry of Education is scrambling up Plan B to cover for the unexpected pull out of 300 students from the Maluafou and Papauta Colleges of the EFFKS Church. Whatever Plan B entails the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Games Organising Committee, Loau Keneti Sio is not worried. He is confident the opening ceremony will go well despite the last minute surprise shock by the church college students. The CNMI reaffirmed its commitment to host the 2021 Pacific Games, as Gov. Ralph DLD Torres has agreed to the Pacific Games Council’s proposed plan for the disbursement of funds for the quadrennial event.
“As you understand, this was a very challenging deliberation process as our islands continue its recovery from the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yutu. The loss of economic activity within our tourism industry and our businesses as a result of the storm has crippled our revenue stream during this fiscal year and put us in a precarious financial position as a government overall,” Torres said in letter sent to PGC president Vidhya Lakhan last Friday. ATHLETICS Papua New Guinea (APNG) says Pacific Games women’s sprint champion and national record holder for the 100m (11.29s), 200m (23.13s) and 400m (53.19s), Toea Wisil will compete in Samoa. APNG president Tony Green said that following a social-media statement understood to be by Wisil, who appeared to be unhappy with the governing body. “APNG is one of the oldest national sports federations in Papua New Guinea,” Green told The National in a statement ahead of the Games in Apia from Sunday to July 20. |
Pacific Games News & ResultsThis page brings all the latest Samoa2019 Pacific Games and news. We will also bring result updates as the games progress.
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