Samoa

Talamua online reports patients in the Acute 7 and 8 wards of the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital were moved out and relocated to the hospital's pharmacy and outpatient areas.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Fire and Emergency Service Authority, Lelevaga Faafouina Mupo, said the smoke coming from the fire was serious and precautions needed to be made.

He says the control room will need to be rebuilt.

Lelevaga says the firefighters used a lot of fire extinguisher powder to spray the machines in the room, but flames already destroyed the interior of the room.

Organisers of the Commonwealth Youth Games say last week's event has inspired local athletes to dream big.

Samoa finished 12th on the overall medals tally, winning two gold, four silver and six bronze.

The chief co-ordinator for the 2015 Youth Games, Vitolio Lui, says it was the first time a lot of Samoa's athletes have come up against international class competition.

The teams meet at the Brighton Community Stadium on Sunday in a Pool B encounter and it is the lock, now on the payroll of Toulon, who will be a key man for the Eagles. Manoa was plucked from the relative obscurity of American league rugby four years ago and made an enormous impact with Northampton.

Amazing athlete

Martin, elected at the organisation’s recent General Assembly, defeating incumbent Prince Imran of Malaysia, also reiterated that two or three other countries, aside from Canada and Scotland, have expressed an early interest in staging the 2017 Games following the withdrawal of St Lucia.

The Caribbean nation, awarded the event in November 2011, decided they were not in a fit state to host the Games in two years’ time due to doubts over venues and financial concerns, particularly over the lack of a stadium to host athletics. 

Fiji is on its best unbeaten run in this century, Tonga is enjoying its best string of results in a dozen years, and the Samoa players have peace of mind.

The way the Fijians dismantled Canada in their last warm-up match even has some believing Fiji is a threat in the toughest of the groups, featuring top-five teams Australia, England, and Wales.

“We can shock the world,” winger Nemani Nadolo says seriously.

The Ceremony, held at one of the main venues for the Games, started with the parade of athletes around the track, with all 900 competitors coming out as one rather than in their separate teams.

Nations interspersed to create a vibrant beginning to the spectacle, and while the parade was going on in the background, a group of performers displayed a traditional Samoan dance, prompting large cheers from the crowd before the entertainment programme for the evening began.

107 gold medals were won, 40 countries flags raised, nine sports were played and up to 1000 young Commonwealth athletes aged 14-18 competed.

Australia, South Africa and England were the top teams on the medals table with Australia bringing in an impressive 24 golds.

The Games in Samoa has been seen as a huge success.

The 28 year-old was born and raised in Colorado in the United States but is eligible to represent Samoa through his mother, who is from the village of Malie.

Dodson bowed out in the 200m semi finals at last month's World Champs in Beijing and says niggling injuries have troubled him this season.

He's running the 150m in Newcastle tonight wants to finish the year on a high.

Maeu Nanai Livi triumphed in the Men's 85kg weightlifting division with a combined lift of 253kg.

It capped a good day for the hosts, with Feagaiga Stowers winning silver in the over 69kg category - taking their overall tally to one gold, four silver and five bronze medals.

Papua New Guinea also won their first gold medal in Apia.

Lightweight boxer Thadeus Katoa won a split decision in the ring at Tuana'imato against Northern Ireland's Tiernan Bradley.

PNG also claimed bronze in the tennis mixed doubles.

Dr Seine Va'ai says there are also people suffering from the heat.

The Ministry's advice come after reports some athletes competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games needed treatment for diarrhoea and vomiting.

It says people can avoid the transmission of disease by ensuring they have access to clean drinking water, adequate sanitation and good personal hygiene.