Minister to open Alo Paopao Festival today

26 August 2017, 12:00AM

The Vailima Alopaopao International Paddling Festival 2017 kicks off today with the opening ceremony at 9.30am at Apia Beach Front, opposite Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel & Bungalows.  

This will include a traditional ava ceremony to welcome overseas international paddlers.

The Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Loau Keneti Sio, will deliver the keynote address followed by remarks from Alo Paopao Festival Committee Trust Patron, Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale.  

The annual Vailima Alo Paopao Festival is Samoa’s premier international paddling event - a week-long event featuring a series of competitive international level paddling regattas. 

The first Alo Paopao Festival took place in 2012, in Apia, and this will be its 6th year running!

The Alo Paopao Festival this year, will feature 10 international teams with paddlers from Tahiti, American Samoa, New Zealand and Australia and 7 local teams, total of 120 paddlers. 

 Following the opening ceremony, will be the Sprint competition today.  

This will be followed by V1 Races, and traditional to’onai lunch held at Ocean Club Headquaters, Fiafia Village, Maninoa Beach, Siumu on Sunday 27th August.

The Long Distance Regattas will be held on Tuesday 29th & Wednesday 30th August.  The Vailima Alopaopao Festival will wrap up with a Cultural Show and Closing Ceremony on Wednesday evening.  

This year, with support from UN Women, Alo Pao Pao will be dedicating the festival to Ending Violence Against Women. Va’as Against Violence will promote awareness by having the signature color Orange on all festival memorabilia. 

The 25th of every month has been designated “Orange Day” to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and girls not only once a year on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November), but every month. As a bright and optimistic color, orange represents a future free from violence and promotes positive solutions to EVAW.  

Following the Alo Paopao Festival, will be the 2nd annual Le Aito V1 International Paddling Regatta on Saturday 2nd September at Taumeasina Island Resort.  

The paddling competition will feature 21 international paddlers and 20 local paddlers, competing in Open Mens, Womens and Masters categories.  This year’s race will include some of Tahiti’s top V1 paddlers from the prestigious Te Aito Tahiti V1 Competition, as well as top V1 paddlers from New Zealand and Australia. The Te Aito Tahiti, attracts over 600 world class international paddlers to Tahiti every year.  

This year, the Alo Paopao Committee is excited to announce that they will be wrapping up all the paddling festivities with the Le Aito Beach Party at Taumeasina Island Resort.  The Party will feature Headline Acts, Beau Monga, Winner of NZ X Factor 2015 & Nofo Lameko, NZ X Factor contestant 2015, as well as local artists, Ozki Band and Tyrone Schwalger.

Here is an overview of the Vailima Alo Paopao & Le Aito Schedule of Events over the next week:


Saturday 26th August 2017 

– Vailima Alo Paopao Sprint Races

Time: 10:00 am – 3.00pm

Venue: Sheraton Beach, opposite from Sheraton Samoa Hotel & Bungalows, Vasigano)

 

Sunday 27th August 2017 – Vailima Alopaopao Beach Day, V1 Races & Tradtional Paopao Races

Time: 11.00am - 3:00pm

Venue: Ocean Club Headquaters; Fiafia Beach, Maninoa, Siumu

 

Tuesday 29th & Wednesday 30th August 2017 – Vailima Alopaopao Long Distance Races

Time: 10.00am - 1.00pm

Venue: Sheraton Beach, opposite Sheraton Hotel and Bungalows, Vaisigano

 

Saturday 2nd September – Le Aito International V1 Paddling Regatta & Party

Paddling Event Time: 3pm-5pm

Party Time: 5pm until late

Venue: Taumeasina Island Resort

 

26 August 2017, 12:00AM
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