Pacific Games Baton

The baton was officially welcomed at Ela Beach and then made its way throughout Motu Koita villages.

The relay started at Korobosea then headed to Mahuru, Kilakila and Pari and ended Day one at Vabukori Village.

At Pari village, the baton ran through the main village then made its final stop at the primary school where girls dressed in traditional attire welcomed the baton.

The students and villagers rushed to see and feel the baton before it was driven to Vabukori.

And for many newcomers, they got a peek of what is to come in the opening ceremony on July 4.

The lagatois set sail from Manubada Island at  8am, finally reaching Ela Beach at just after  9am.

Girls in swaying grass skirts welcomed the voyagers – among them Kairuku Hiri MP, Peter Isoaimo and Central Governor, Kila Haod

A rather small crowd slowly swelled in numbers.

Staff from hotels nearby were allowed out to witness the occasion.

Roads were cordoned off to allow smooth one way flow of traffic.

The beach is now a peaceful spot with its jetty the main centre for cocoa trading and the weekly market visits from the nearby Solomon Islanders.

The beach and its history are really important to the Bougainvillean team travelling with the convoy as the Relay promotes unity and a brighter future.

The beach also signifies that the Relay has reached the furthest south-eastern part of the country, with the islands of our neighbour, Solomon Islands, in sight.

Arawa town came together to run a relay around the old abandoned parts of town and the resurrected sections of the town that are beginning to look like a residential suburb again.

The relay included a slippery climb across a steel swing bridge and in true AROB fashion was carried through town inside a replica canoe, carried by the different groups that took part in the Relay.

Students from every school in town and the outskirts took part along with community youth groups dressed in shirts promoting peace through sport.