| Sports |
Pacific flavour in Apia Games opening
By HENRY MORABANG in APIA,
Samoa
THE South Pacific
welcome greeted Islander athletes and made them feel at home at
the officially opening of the Xlll South Pacific Games at Apia
Park, inApia, Samoa, last night (Saturday, Samoa time).
Pacific music with that special Samoa flavour added colour to
the opening led by the home team – easily the biggest the Games.
Team PNG, the second biggest Games contingent, was led into the
stadium by PNG cricket captain Rarua Dikana as the flag bearer.
The Pacific content of the opening ceremony was just
overwhelming, and all went according to plan.
The other large contingents were from the Solomons Islands and
Fiji.
Today (Sunday) is a rest day before the Games begin in earnest
tomorrow (Monday).
PNG is among 22 countries and territories participating in this
year’s SP Games. Team PNG, sponsored by Telikom PNG, will take
part in 21 sports from 33 which are on the official Games
programme.
Earlier on Friday, Team PNG was met on arrival by an advance
party led by Chef De Mission Tamzin Wardley and PNG Sports
Federation secretary general Sir John Dawanincura, along with a
small PNG community.
 
|
