2024 Paris Olympics Pacific Round Up
THE OLYMPICS ARE OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY! 14 Pacific Island Nations take to the global stage over the next two weeks. Here's the line-up of all the Pasifika athletes competing on Day 1 of the Olympics 🥊🏓🌺
Day 1
Swimming
American Samoa's Micah Masei is competing in the Men's 100m Breastroke, where the heats kick off on the 27th July, 9pm NZST (27th July, 4am Central Time in the USA)
Rugby Sevens
Some disciplines, including the Men's Rugby Sevens, started before the official Opening Ceremony of the Games.
Fiji have secured a place in the Semi-Finals continuing their undefeated streak at the Olympics, they go up against Australia 28th July, 2am NZST (27th July, 9am Central Time in the USA).…more
Pacific Powerhouses: Athletes from the Islands at the 2024 Olympics
As the world gears up for the spectacle of the 2024 Paris Olympics, amidst the grandeur and glory, 105 athletes from the Pacific Islands are ready to make waves of their own.
From the small Micronesian country of Palau to the mountain ranges of Papua New Guinea, these competitors bring not just their incredible talent but also the spirit Pasifika culture to the global stage. Get to know the athletes representing the Moana here; and stay updated on what days they take to the global stage of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad!
-
American Samoa
‘Le Motu o Fiafiaga’ sends two athletes to the 2024 Summer Olympics, in swimmer Micah Masei Men’s 100m breaststroke and track star/flagbearer Filomenaleonisa Iakopo in the Women’s 100m
Team American Samoa: Micah Masei, Filomenaleonisa Iakopo
Cook Islands
Avaiki Nui will also be sending two athletes to Paris, with Lanihei Connolly looking to make a splash in the Women’s 100m breastroke, and Alex Beddoes taking to the track in the Men’s 800m.…more
Why we need a Pasifika seat on New Zealand Rugby board - Dr Dion Enari
OPINION
Although Pacific people are the highest percentage of All Blacks and Black Ferns, there’s still no Pasifika seat at the New Zealand Rugby board.
Pasifika communities and allies are fighting for fair representation in governance. As a sport academic, and son of a Pacific community rugby pioneer, I stand in solidarity.
As a child, in 1997, I remember seeing my dad in meetings with Auckland Rugby.
My dad Fa’alafitele Faupapa Enari organised Pacific rugby tournaments and coached Auckland Samoa and Ulalei rugby teams. I remember hearing the condescending patronising remarks from union representatives to my dad and other Pasifika elders. Sadly, today, much hasn’t changed. It’s just masked better.
Looking at how far New Zealand Rugby has come; you cannot deny that Māori and Pasifika people made New Zealand rugby as we know it and platformed it to the world.
One must only look at legends such as La’auli Sir Michael Jones, the late Jonah Lomu to current players such as Ardie Savea, plus the many more Pacific brothers who wore the black jersey.…more
Lalaga Card Game Lands Whitcoulls Deal and Sells Out in 24 Hours at Sylvia Park
In a world that thrives on diversity and innovation, it is exhilarating to witness Pacific-owned businesses making significant strides in their respective industries. Last week, Torisse Laulu, a Pacific business owner, saw her hard work come to fruition as her card game, designed to inspire deep talanoa (conversation), was stocked in eight Whitcoulls stores across the country.
The popular card game proved its worth when both Sylvia Park Whitcoulls stores sold out in just over 24 hours of being stocked!
Hailing from the villages of Afega, Lefaga, Salai'lua, and Falealili, the 29-year-old entrepreneur shares the genesis of her card game, Lalaga.
"Lalaga came about after I ran a platform called Plantation Convos and co-hosted Talanoa sessions with Anatola Finau. Women and men would come to these sessions and talanoa about topics that they never really had the space to talk about in their everyday lives. People would spend hours talking and unpacking.”
Inspired by these sessions, Laulu sought to create more of these spaces, making such talanoa more accessible through a card game – which we now know as Lalaga.…more
Chasing Glory: Fiji's Quest for third Olympic Rugby Gold in Paris
Fiji is uniquely the only rugby nation in the world to win Olympic gold in modern times and coach Osea Kolinisau insists his team is looking to continue that unique legacy in Paris in two week’s time.
The Paris Olympic 7s kicks off on 24 of July and the whole of Fiji is hoping for the ‘threepeat’, the miraculous achievement of winning all three Olympic rugby gold medals since the sport was introduced in 2016.
The idea that this Fijian team is not as motivated as the original gold medal-winning teams of 2016 and 2021 was rubbished by the legendary, former captain who is now looking to become a great coach.
‘I will correct you of that thought. We are really hungry for that win,’ said Kolinisau this week from Libourne near the south-west coast of France.…more
“Have more than you show, and less than you know!” Theo David on Mandate
Samoan Actor Theo David shares his journey thus far, with acting, auditions, expectations, passion, fatherhood, hardship and future goals as an actor on this ep of Mandate
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - ELSIE POLOSOVAI
ELSIE POLOSOVAI
ACTRESS/MISS LAURU - MISS SOLOMON ISLANDS CONTESTANT
SOLOMON ISLANDER
A young Solomon Islands teenager encounters bullying and micro-aggressions at school, and takes fate into her own hands when she is visited by a guardian spirit of her family.
When Vani is the victim of racism at an all white high school, her Hiama reminds her of her inner power.
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - CAROL AGAFILI
CAROL AGAFILI
CRICKET PLAYER / CRICKET DEVELOPMENT
OFFICER SAMOAN
- What is your Pacific Heritage? - I am full Samoan.
My mum is from Sili Savai’i and Dad is from Sala’ilua.
- Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Mangere and Manurewa. I went to Wiri Central School, a primary and intermediate school in Manurewa. Then I went to McAuley High School where I finished in 2020. The end of 2020 was that start of my cricket journey.
- Did you grow up playing kilikiti?
Yes I grew up playing Kilikiki with my dad. I always attended his team training and games because I enjoyed watching and then eventually started playing for Ao Atua and G.I.
Kilikiki was not just another sport for me, it was where we all got together and enjoyed the sport we love to play.…more
International Singer-Songwriter Teddy Swims Rocks Pacific Clothing Label FUGAWI
Kuki Airani designer Morghan Ariki Bradshaw, the brains behind clothing label FUGAWI, celebrated a milestone in her brand's journey earlier this week when international singer-songwriter Teddy Swims took to the stage wearing her design.
This is not the first time Bradshaw’s work has adorned a popular musician.…more
Road to Paris: Tongan Swimmer Noelani Day Prepares for Second Olympics
"My background was completely different from your average collegiate swimmer, which for a while made me a bit insecure, but now it is something I am proud of. I grew up in a country where we did not have proper facilities or a swimming pool, so we trained in the ocean. I am slowly overcoming it and understanding that the pathway to the Olympics looks different for so many athletes. Mine might not be the most conventional, but I wouldn’t have it any other way."
-
As the first Olympic swimmer born and raised in Tonga, Day’s achievements are historic. Her goals extend beyond swimming, as she pursues degrees in Human Biology and Documentary Film, while also working at USC. Balancing her academics, future career plans, and Olympic training has required strategic preparation and time management.
Day’s swimming journey started in Tonga, a collection of islands without an Olympic-size pool. Her early training was in the ocean and at makeshift facilities like hotel pools and navy bases.…more