Samoa

Pacific nations to host future Tests in new 10-year rolling calendar

RLIF CEO Nigel Wood confirmed on the eve of Saturday’s opening round of Oceania Cup matches between New Zealand and Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium and Samoa and Papua New Guinea at Leichhardt Oval that the international body wanted to play games in the Pacific islands.

An RLIF meeting in Singapore earlier this month agreed that the Oceania Cup would be staged mid-year and at the end of the season on an annual basis, except in 2021 and 2025 when the World Cup is held.

Draw made for football competition at Samoa 2019 Pacific Games

Conducted by Football Federation Samoa, the draw used seedings based on FIFA rankings.

In the men's event, six teams had been set to be placed in Group A and five in Group B but due to an mistake on the day, five teams were drawn for Group A and six for Group B.

To rectify this, a straight swap was carried out in the match schedules between the groups.

Group A features hosts Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand under-23s, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

New Caledonia are the top seeds in Group B, alongside American Samoa, Tuvalu, Tahiti, Fiji and Solomon Islands.

Smokefree Pacific Games re-enforces healthy message

Athletes, officials, spectators, volunteers, and the workforce involved in the Games are reminded that the event is smokefree.

May 31, which is just 37 days until the Opening Ceremony kicks off a fortnight of sporting competition, is the annual No Tobacco Day organised by the World Health Organization.

The annual campaign raises awareness of the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure, and aims to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.

Basketball issues 2019 Pacific Games schedule

Technical Delegate Amanda Jenkins says the venue and team preparations are on track.

"It's exciting this is the time first we have qualifying pathways for this event. Any team who underestimates their opponent will be the ones who will not progress."

Jenkins is certain basketball teams from the Oceania region will be putting on their best performances to win a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers.

Hotels to house Pacific Games boxers

CEO of the Games Organising Committee Falefata Hele Matatia told Newsline Samoa that Jet Over Hotel, Lucia Chalets, Savai'ian Hotel and Rosalote Hotel have been chosen for their close proximity to the boxing venue at Salelologa.

Boxing is one of 26 sports being contested in Samoa and will be held at the Catholic Church run Don Bosco School.

"When the request was put to us by government our school embraced it, it is our contribution to the government efforts in hosting the Games," said Principal of the college Father Nuku Tevita in a telephone interview with the newspaper.

Samoa 2019 chief executive aims to make history at Pacific Games

The Games are due to take place between July 7 and 20 but the country was only confirmed as host in December 2017.

Apia stepped in following the withdrawal of Tonga who cited financial concerns.

It means Samoan organisers have had a shorter time than usual to prepare for the quadrennial event.

"Friday marks 100 days until the Opening Ceremony of the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games, and to say that it has been a hectic year of preparations would be an understatement," said Matatia.

2019 Pacific Games Village impresses

Christophe Dabin is the General Secretary of the National French and Sporting Olympic Committee (CNOSF) of New Caledonia and knows this well.

He also understands the value of his team staying together in the Games Village at the Methodist Church Compound at Faleula at the XVI Pacific Games in July.

Any team who stays together, will win together,” he says.

This was also the philosophy of the Pacific Games Office in choosing the location and bringing the Games slogan, One in Spirit, into reality.

Kiwis to play British Lions, Tonga in 2019

New Zealand will play Mate Ma'a Tonga on 22 June at Mt Smart Stadium in the first match of the new Oceania Cup.

The Kiwi Ferns will also play against an unnamed opponent in the double header - they'll play a second match against Australia in October.

The Oceania Cup will be played in June and November during the international Test windows.

Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Fiji and Australia make up the six-nation competition.

Pacific Games Council backs accommodation plans in Samoa

The original plan was for athletes to be housed in hotels but a lack of providers forced organisers to approach the Methodist Church of Samoa, who agreed to have the athletes stay at their Faleula compound.

Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue believes the change of plan is a blessing in disguise.

"It's a big advantage actually to have all of the athletes in one place, like we had in Port Moresby (four years ago) and in New Caledonia in 2011. The last time the Games were here (in 2007) all the athletes were housed in schools around the town.

Samoa Govt approves more accommodation for Pacific Games’ officials

The total worth of all contracts is ST$1,355,280.

A statement said the hotels were selected based on the number of Officials, location and proximity of the hotel to Games venues and Dining Hall facilities, as well as the overall suitability in the transportation plan for the Games.