Vanuatu

10th Pacific Mini Games underway, thanks to late Joe Carlo

Thanks to the foresight and vision of the late Joe Borman Carlo, former president of Vanuatu Sports Association and National Olympic Committee (VASANOC).

“Joe led the successful bid of this Games,” said Vidya Lakhan, president of the Pacific Games Council.

The late Joe Carlo was part of the 4th Pacific Mini Games held in Vila in 1993 and was chairman of the VAN2017 Games Organising Committee when he passed away last year.

“While we miss him deeply, the success of these games will be a testament to his sporting legacy.”

Mini Games focuses on development

In order to address one of its key Sustainable Development Goals for the event, the Van2017 LOC has created Em Pawa, a counterpart to the Games’ official mascot Nasi.

Em Pawa will be an advocate for messages of equality and non-discrimination, non-violence, supporting of positive and healthy decisions, encouraging others to challenge gender stereotypes, and promote positive change in the home, workplace, community and country.

Pacific Mini Games kick off on a high note

With a crowd fit for the Olympics and spirits high, the rainy weather was not enough to dampen the excitement of players and spectators.

Rain did nothing to slow down the matches as Fiji claimed the first Pacific Mini Games victory after defeating Tuvalu with a score of 8-0.

A 3-0 win in favour of the Solomon Islands against Tonga proved that the games will only get better and more exciting from that point onwards.

Vanuatu table tennis aims for 7 gold medals

The Table Tennis Interim-President, James Malao, says that for this year’s Mini Games, the final team will be finalized this week, with last weekend’s test event showing how the players have been contributing in their training sessions, attendance, characters and their performance.

“In the meantime, we are having our three para table tennis players, they were the finalist, but for the table tennis, there are going to be eight finalists that will later be announced.

16 Days Activism launched at Van2017 Festival Village

This important occasion was marked at the Festival Village, which was a part of the Van2017 Korman site, and was run in conjunction with the Games Test Event where eight of the 14 sports were on display and testing the venues and infrastructure took place ahead of the December 4 Games opening.

The 16 Days of Activism was launched with a word of prayer followed by official speeches by leaders of the Government and NGOs.

$US45 million for Pacific catastrophe insurance

The five countries are the Cook Islands, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

The company, which is owned by the Pacific Island countries, was set up after states saw a need for a mechanism to protect their people from increasing climate and seismic risks.

It provides a regional catastrophe insurance platform offering cover that can be paid out within 10 days of a triggered event, so governments have access to immediate liquidity for disaster response.

     

Vanuatu Government hands over 23 buses for the Pacific Mini Games

In a formal ceremony, Van2017 CEO Clint Flood said that transport is a critical component in the organization of the Games.

“I thank the Government of Vanuatu for supporting the Games; it’s been six years that the people of Vanuatu have been waiting for this Games and now time is very short, as we have to go operational next week.   

Vanuatu ready to host Pacific Mini Games

Pacific Games Council CEO Clint Flood says schools have been fitted with 1,600 beds, chefs are on standby to cook for up to 1,000 people a day and China has provided 25 buses for transportation.

Flood says it is also symbolic that the Queen's Baton Relay carrying the Queen's message for the Commonwealth Games will pass through the Pacific Mini Games.

Vanuatu leads push to make narcotic drink kava a worldwide favourite

The kava plant – Piper methysticum – only grows in the south Pacific islands, with each one producing different varieties according to growing conditions, soil and climate, much like the different varieties of tea, coffee or wine.

The sedative brew is made from the roots of the kava plant, a member of the pepper family. As a drink it looks like muddy water and has a bitter aftertaste, but it is popular in the islands for its relaxing, narcotic properties.

Small Tahiti delegation expected at Mini Games

The French Polynesian government has reiterated it will go ahead with a boycott of the Mini Games, following a disagreement over who should represent the territory in boxing.

The CEO of Pacific Games Council Andrew Minogue said their position remained the same: in the absence of an elected Olympic Committee in Tahiti, sporting federations that want to attend the Games are welcome, provided they are recognised by their respective international federations.