Samoa

Fiji lost to Samoa yesterday and dropped out of the race to finish ninth, however the team kept its composure to finish eleventh, four spots lower than what they finished in the last World Cup.

Taraima Mitchell and Unouna Rusivakula were on target and had a better shooting rate this time around.

The team returns to Fiji next week.

Up to 1000 athletes from 68 countries will visit Samoa next month to contest nine sports.

The Games Planning and Delivery Advisor, Moira Lassen, says the final venues are due to be signed off next week and the focus now is on ensuring everything else comes together smoothly for when the teams arrive.

"Making sure the venues are ready to go, all the supplies are here, sport equipment is here - accreditation is always a big piece because you're dealing with all that many human beings on the other end of all that accreditation."

Weapons were also found and four people arrested during the raid which involved over 60 officers.

It was the biggest police operation carried in the village since an unsuccessful raid two years ago where a gun fight erupted ending with the death of a villager and injuries to three officers.

The latest raid was the second drug operation in two weeks weapons and drugs were found at a family house in Afiamalu.

China's Ambassador to Samoa Madame Li Yanduan says it is important for the students to study and learn more about her country's way of life and explore its people.

She has encouraged them to use the opportunity well to return to serve the Samoa government and apply their knowledge.

"Between China and Samoa we have a very long distance. It is not easy for our people to understand, to know each other. And all these student [should] just apply the messages of the friendship and the culture:"

Run in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the Commonwealth Secretariat and children's charity UNICEF, the activities include workshops and “Just Play” fan zones, where young locals, athletes and visitors will be able to participate in interactive games.

The workshops will be held on a rotational basis each day for athletes and officials and will be delivered by representatives from the Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace, a group of young sports leaders from across the region.

The Samoans won the opening two quarters but fell behind in the third period before finishing strongly.

Coach Marcia Hardcastle says it's a relief to finally get a win on the board, against a team they know well, having played them a couple of times in recent years.

Speaking on the amendment in Parliament, the Opposition Leader, Palusalue Fa'apo II, says the government wants more women MPs yet this amendment would limit their chances to enter politics.

He says some women who are willing to stand in next year's general election have called him to make a strong stand against the proposed electoral requirement.

Apia Park was completed in time for July's rugby test between Manu Samoa and the All Blacks, while the tennis and swimming facilities are also ready to go.

The Games Planning and Delivery Advisor, Moira Lassen, says there was a delay in the flooring and glass doors coming in from North America and Scandanavia for the new squash courts, but they're close to completion.

The Flying Fijians have moved up one place to ninth after beating Manu Samoa in last week's final.

Tonga's three-match winning streak to end the tournament has also seen them jump from 12th into the top ten, with Samoa slipping back two places to 11th.

In other notable moves, Ireland has climbed to their highest ever position of second after beating Wales in a World Cup warm-up match over the weekend.

That, coupled with South Africa's shock home defeat to Argentina was enough for the Irish to move up, with the Springboks dropping three places to fifth.

“As the umbrella body that represents more than 170 NGOs and CSO member organisations in Samoa, we are concerned that our peoples and limited resources will be on the front lines of the impacts of PACER-Plus. Yet we are denied a say in what is happening,” commented Vaasiliifiti Moelagi Jackson, President of SUNGO.