Team Samoa are being realistic about their chances at the Rio Olympics and say they want to be good ambassadors for the islands no matter what their results.
RNZ reports Chef de Mission Auali'itia Fa'afouina Milford said with the Manu Samoa sevens team surprisingly failing to qualify for the games, medal hopes are slim for the country but he said exposing the likes of teen swimmers Evelina Afoa and Brandon Schuster to the Olympics as wild card entrants was a great thing.
"That was the aim that we did have in the past, to have this contingent this year to come up with a big number but it is really unfortunate that our rugby sevens didn't make it," Auali'itia said.
"There is nothing we can do about it so we have to concentrate on our other sports. We have six qualified by merit and the other two who have been given the opportunity."
Auali'itia also said Samoa held no concerns over the Olympic village in Rio, despite a refusal by Australia to stay at the venue due to complaints over electrical, plumbing and hygiene issues.
Team Samoa are being realistic about their chances at the Rio Olympics and say they want to be good ambassadors for the islands no matter what their results.
Chef de Mission Auali'itia Fa'afouina Milford said with the Manu Samoa sevens team surprisingly failing to qualify for the games, medal hopes are slim for the country but he said exposing the likes of teen swimmers Evelina Afoa and Brandon Schuster to the Olympics as wild card entrants was a great thing.
"That was the aim that we did have in the past, to have this contingent this year to come up with a big number but it is really unfortunate that our rugby sevens didn't make it," Auali'itia said.
"There is nothing we can do about it so we have to concentrate on our other sports. We have six qualified by merit and the other two who have been given the opportunity."
Auali'itia also said Samoa held no concerns over the Olympic village in Rio, despite a refusal by Australia to stay at the venue due to complaints over electrical, plumbing and hygiene issues.
Rio athletes village Photo: Twitter/Mahe Drysdale