Never heard of the South Pacific Games? With more events than the Commonwealth Games and some of the best underdog stories in sport, the Australian sporting public is missing an opportunity to see another side of the Pacific.
During the past two weeks, 22 Pacific countries and territories have turned their attention to Apia, Samoa, host of the 13th South Pacific Games. With enormous support from volunteers and foreign donors, particularly China, the Games overcame criticism in the lead up to demonstrate the value of bringing together countries separated by distance and language but united by many shared cultural values. Samoa's population swelled with new faces from around the region as athletes, officials and media enjoyed the convivial atmosphere.
In Apia, most people knew of colleagues, friends or family competing at the Games. Most athletes were amateurs in the truest sense; many made sacrifices to compete at the Games. It was the personal stories that came to the fore during the two weeks, providing an inside glimpse of conditions and peoples across the Pacific.
Two examples stood out to me, as an observer, in particular. In the Womens' 5000m event, 14-year-old Fijian runner Akesa Drotini crossed the line in first place. In a blow for sporting apparel manufacturers, she did so barefoot. Her story was fascinating. So often, athletes are the public face of a well resourced techno-scientific enterprise. Drotini reportedly lives in a remote Fijian community with her large family, walking a mile-and-a-half to school every day. Her family struggled to fund her fortnightly training sessions in Suva. Her win was celebrated by Samoan observers no less than a win by one of their own, such was the raw talent on display.
At the other end of the spectrum, a strongly-built middle-aged gentleman who has been training for around six months took silver for Samoa in a team event in the archery. The Honourable Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi lived close to his training venue and probably had little difficulty in funding the expensive equipment used in his sport. However, his day job as Prime Minister of Samoa made his achievement equally impressive.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa’s message to Samoans was simple — let no-one complain that they are too busy, or too old, to participate in sport. It is an important message in a region where non-communicable diseases are on the rise. This was also leadership by example in a country which has initiated government-mandated weekly fitness sessions for state employees, in an era when