2019 Pacific Games

The games opening ceremony is on Sunday with around 3,500 athletes from 24 nations across the region expected to compete in 27 sports.

Nynette Sass said the atmosphere in the country is already festive with locals looking forward to welcoming all the visitors.

She said the country's athletes are equally excited and look to put in a strong performance at the games especially with their preparations boosted by training camps in China.

She is representing Samoa in two sports in the Pacific Games.

As a coach and player in the male dominated rugby arena, Gabriel is using the event as a platform to push for gender equality.     

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For those involved in one of the momentous occasions in the history of what is considered the ‘Miracle Games’ this is described as an “unexpected blessing.”

With such a short time for Samoa to organise the Games, the people have taken the challenge on board and are working hard to ensure the opening ceremony is a success.

Students from different schools and districts around Samoa are working and blending together with one another – and portraying the slogan of the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games, ‘one in spirit.’

“To be honest, I am very happy and honoured to captain the national team once again and I’m looking forward to leading the boys to the Pacific Games,” said Foster.

“It will be a challenging task for me to lead this bunch of boys, especially without regular captain David Muta and David Browne who were ruled out due to injury.

“However, I have been given a lot of support from my other senior teammates, including Koriak Upaiga, Raymond Gunemba, Daniel Joe, Nigel Dabinyaba and Alwin Komolong which takes a load off from my shoulders and I am playing the role well.

About 3,500 athletes from 24 nations across the region will compete in 26 sports from next Monday.

Samoa was only awarded the hosting rights in September 2017 after the Tongan government claimed it could not afford to stage the event.

But Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue says the Pacific Games Office in Samoa has done a very good job in a very short amount of time to ensure everything is ready to go.

"The organising committee opened for business on the 1st of March last year so really it's only 15 or 16 months," he said.

New Caledonia and American Samoa teams are taking part at Fagalii Golf Course, Apia, with the Samoan squad also competing as its final trial before selections are made for the Games.

The Samoa Open, played over three days, sees professional and seniors compete for a total of AUD$95,000 in prize money. It is also a test event for the Pacific Games.

With ten days before the Games open, David Barker, the technical delegate for Golf, said the course has already improved in the past week, with more regular mowing to make for faster greens.

“There are a lot of things that keep me motivated, such as our beautiful island that we have here, the nature. It’s a calling to continue and to enjoy the gift," he said.

“The design was from the Pacific Games Office and I followed through with [creating the baton]." 

Penehuro uses natural materials he finds to create his distinctive carvings.

“I found the treasure here, especially the stones, and it keeps me [in Samoa],” he continued. “I believe I have everything here for free.”

He will be attending the meeting for the confirmation of the selected names.

"Today we will know who will be picked to be one of the referees at the Pacific Games. And I am ready for it," said Lafita.

The businessman has been a local football referee for almost five years now.

The Vaiala native is grateful they are hosting the games this year.

"The games will create alot of opportunities in Samoa. And we are proud to be hosting this year."

Lagita also runs a stall at the flee market and is expecting the business to bloom this year.

Chairman Syd Yates said coach Paul Tietjens has given the wider training squad, which has been in intense training since returning from the April Hong Kong 7s, every opportunity to make the final team.

Injuries, fitness levels, performance in game situation, attitude on and off the field, commitment and dedication to training, were among the factors that were used to name the final team.

This has been confirmed by the Team Samoa Chef de Mission, Nynette Sass at a podcast training workshop for a group of journalists that is being conducted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“Our officials will be present at the games and will walk up to athletes that won their events, say if they win gold, the official will come up to them and tap their back to tell them to take the test. If the athletes refuse, they have to have a valid reason like they have another event to attend to. If not, officials will be on their backs till they take the test,” Sass said.