S.A.S.N.O.C. revives Samoa Games
The Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C) is reviving Samoa Games on the 5th of next month.
This was confirmed by the C.E.O Fa’amausili Taiva Ah Young in his interview with the Samoa Observer yesterday.
“I believe there was Samoa Games before but when I took over as C.E.O it was on hold and I’m sorry I don’t know why it was on hold,” he said.
“We had a meeting with all the heads of sports in Samoa and we decided that it is time to revive the event again because research shows that we need to have competitions annually to prepare our athletes of future international tournaments.”
“So this event is to generate the interest and the athlete’s enthusiasm to play in Olympic sports.”
He went on to say that reviving the Samoa Games will also help with the preparations of the athletes for international competitions especially the 2020 Olympic Games.
“We have also prepared for our three major tournaments next year as a starting point to develop our athletes.”
“We will also be introducing sports in schools in April next year and it will go for three days, then in June there will be an Olympic day games and then the Samoa Games.”
“These tournaments we will be selecting elites from here to train for the 2020 Olympics.”
Fa’amausili also highlighted that Savaii will also have their turn for the event.
“For the Upolu Samoa Games it will kick start with a parade on the 5th of next month and it will continue till the 8th,” he said.
“At the moment we haven’t confirmed whether the Prime Minister or the Minister of Sports will do the official opening but we will let you know later on the week.” “Savaii will have theirs from the 13th-15th and it will be open at the Prince Edward in the morning.”
“The reason why we decided to have one in Savaii it’s because we found out at our research that we did in 2014 there is so much potential there.”
“There is so much raw talent and so we need to harness that talent from Savaii and then train them.”
“So that’s why we are eager to get that talent from those kids and I am sure that there is a high representation of Samoa from the kids in Savaii, because of their skills and especially their commitment.”
“That is one of the key point of an athlete; the willingness to learn and achieve.”
Fa’amausili was also asked if the event will be held internationally.
“Because this is the first year of the Samoa Games we decided to put a hold for the event to be internationally until next year,” he said.
“We wanted to see how it goes this year and see what needs to be improved before we make it as a international event so as of next year onwards the event will be international because there are a lot of countries who are interested but we want to see how it goes this year first before letting in international competitors.”
UPOLU SPORTS:
ARCHERY
BASKETBALL
BOXING
BODYBUILDING
INTERNATIONAL CRICKET
FENCING
GOLF
HANDBALL
HOCKEY
LAWN
TENNIS
OUTRIGGER & CANOEING
RUGBY LEAGUE
SQUASH
TABLE TENNIS
WEIGHTLIFTING
ATHLETICS
SAVAII SPORTS
SAVAI’I DECEMBER 13- 15 2016 SAVAI’I – PRINCE EDWARD PARK
ATHLETICS – PRINCE EDWARD PARK, IVA
BASKETBALL - VAIOLA COLLEGE, TAPUELEELE
BOXING – SAPAPALII PRIMARY
INTERNATIONAL CRICKET – SAGONE
HOCKEY - SAPAPALII PRIMARY SCHOOL,
LAWN TENNIS – LALOMALAVA PRIMARY SCHOOL
NETBALL – VAIOLA COLLEGE
TABLE TENNIS – MATAAEVAVE COLLEGE, IVA
INDOOR VOLLEYBALL – LALOMALAVA P/S. LALOMALAVA SAMOA ASSOCIATION