Teams arrive for Oceania swim meet

By MARTHA DERUAGE
TEAM Solomon Islands were the first to arrive in the country with nine swimmers and four officials yesterday for the 12th Oceania Swimming Championships which start in Port Moresby next week.
Head coach Stance Beula said the team had taken a year to prepare for the competition and were pleased to finally be in PNG.
“We have come to the end of our preparation and are happy to finally be here,” Beula said.
Beula said the team would also compete in the open water competition for the first time.
“This will be our first time to take part in the open water and we hope to do our best in that as well as in the pool.”
Solomon Islands Swimming Federation vice-president Nihal Senevivatne said they already felt at home in Port Moresby and were looking forward to the opening day of competition.
Team New Zealand followed Solomon’s arrival with a contingent of 20 swimmers and seven officials.
The Australian team was the other team who touched down yesterday with 10 swimmers and 11 officials.
The PNG event organising committee were there to welcome the athletes.
Athletes from Samoa, Vanuatu and Guam are expected to arrive today while others over the weekend. The PNG team are made up of swimmers from the Boroko Swimming Club and Lae as well as Kavieng, and Australia.