Pacific athletes get help

THE Australian Government, through PacificAus Sports has announced a partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee to support more than 230 able-bodied and para-athletes from 13 Pacific nations as they prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Papua New Guinea’s long jump champion Rellie Kaputin is one of the athletes that will receive the support.
This partnership builds on from funding the Australian Government provided for Pacific athletes through PacificAus Sports ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
It will be close to equal representation of athletes supported through the funding with 127 (55 per cent) male athletes and 106 (45 per cent) female athletes.
The PacificAus Sports programme is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes compete in elite competitions and access high performance coaching in Australia and internationally.
“PacificAus Sports really helped support me towards my preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” Kaputin said.
“I think I have inspired younger generations back home, for a lot of them to see me at that level is a really good pathway for them to follow.”
Paris bound Paralympian Elie Enock from Vanuatu shared his experience saying sports has helped him stand up for himself in being confident.
“In Vanuatu I started seated shotput by sitting on an upside down bucket because we did not have the seated frame to do my training,” said Enock.
“I’m so fortunate for PacificAus Sport who have sponsored me and helped me with my training. Without the help of the Australian Government I wouldn’t be here.”
Samoa’s Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali who qualified for his first Olympic Games credited the programme for helping him reach his goals.