The Islands Are Almost Ready

For The Fifth Games Clash

The composition of teams for the Fifth South Pacific Games in Guam from August 1 to 10 was starting to take shape in June. In some countries, teams were selected for several sports. In others, a pro gramme of trials was under way be fore the selectors finally committed themselves. In the first week in June, Papua New Guinea had made most progress, with the athletics, swim ming, table tennis, weightlifting and boxing teams named.

The Solomon Islands reached the stage of recommending a team to the BSIP Amateur Sports Association, and inquiring about the availability of two athletes studying overseas.

Papua New Guinea chose a strong team for the men’s table tennis. It included Ted Sokolowski, four times PNG singles champion and twice runner-up, and co-winner of the men’s doubles at the 1971 Tahiti Games. He is a former Australian and Victorian representative and was co-winner of the Australian doubles title in 1959. Rick Strellan, another member of the team, is current PNG singles champion.

The women’s team does not have the same impressive performances be hind it, and may not win a medal.

But the experience in Guam is ex pected to stand the team in good stead in the future.

At the final pre-selection meeting for athletes in the Solomon Islands, Lucy Auna ran the 400 metres in 63.7 sec, the best time for the season. Mary Kelesi, running the 1500 metres in 5 min 31.7 sec, took almost 10 sec off the previous best time for the season. Jim Marau won the 100 metres and 200 metres in 11 sec and 22.7 sec respectively. Ronaldo Albert and Andrew Dakatia tried themselves out over the 5000 metres.

Albert won in 16 min 37.8 sec, with Dakatia five seconds behind.

New Caledonians have been train ing enthusiastically in their special ties. Discus thrower Martial Bone broke his old record to throw 52.88 metres in May. Wallisian gold medal hopeful Losesio Tuita broke another New Caledonian record to throw the javelin 76.16 metres. A new long distance runner has made a spec tacular emergence 23 - year - old Noumea-born Alain Lazare.

Several tennis men, including, of course, Melanesian N’Godrella Wanaro, have been playing in France while others back in Noumea com peted against an Australian eight in May. Among the judo men, 12 hope fuls were due home in June from con tests in New Zealand. Other teams to compete against the New Zea landers were the swimmers who put up a rather disappointing perform ance against their visitors in Noumea late May.

Other sportsmen to benefit from New Zealand encouragement were the table tennis players who were coached by New Zealand champion Richard Lee in Noumea for 10 days before the 1966 Games. As for New Cale donian soccer players, they were training hard to test their strength against a visiting English team.

Sheffield United, in early June.

Teams named so far include:

Papua New Guinea

Athletics —Naibi Levi, Anamason Paulius, Delin Lemen, Naomi Tarain gal, Daisy Irwin, Paiwa Bogela,

Trevor Vorke, Sisia Morea, Wavala Kali, Mike Joyce, Philip Kayo, Iroa Pamoa, Evan lewago, Wallace Hofa gao, John Kokinai, Mo’uro Kaida, Salitia Muga, Vuatha Kapa. Officials —manager, Goa Koiti; assistant manager, Mrs Kuni Tigilai; coach, Jack Pross.

Swimming Mark Hutchings, Charlie Martin, Donald Martin, Oala Moi, Deveni Temu, Peter Yates, Karen Antione, Joanne Kohnke, Fiona Mooney, Lorene Moyle, Alison Newtown, Mati Verave.

Boxing —Zoffa Yar a w i (light flyweight); Jack Eki (flyweight); Tumat Sogolik (bantamweight); John Aba (featherweight); Titi Christian (lightweight); Mark Apai (light welterweight); Samuel Kasa (welter weight); Som Agum (light-middle weight). Manager, Alan Richardson.

Table tennis Ted Sokolowski (men’s capt,), Simon Zial, David Petelo, Rick Strellan, Vui Kila (women’s capt), Geua Kwalahu, Miriam Mark, Haoda Frank. Mana ger, Neil Roberts.

Weightlifting —Edward Seeto (fly weight); Kava Heveapu, Jackson Seeto (bantamweights); Sibona Oka, David Seeto (featherweights); Geoff

Continued on p 79

Two Games veterans, New Caledonia's tennis star N'Godrella (left) and Papua New Guinea's Mike Joyce will be seen in action once again.

•ey Hui (lightweight); Michael

Mexico, Kaik Yakopo, Tom Kemala rniddleweights). Manager, Ken

Cheung; coach, Tony Cavitt.

Iolomon Islands

Athletics —Ronaldo Albert, Jasper Vnisi, Andrew Dakatia, William

"akaia, Casper Lurimo, Noel

damau, Philip Mangakako, Jim larau, Milner Tozaka, Valentine Vale, Judith Afunakua, Lucy Auna, Velien Woi. Other possibilities are datthew Hovaisuta, studying in tabaul and Sylvester Drake, study tig in Fiji. Team officials are xpected to be Mike Markey (men’s oach) and Father Louis Morosini women’s coach).

The games programme shows that riost events will be in the cool of

he morning or evening. The games

vill be officially opened on August 1, ut there will be no events that day.

Neither will there be any events on tugust 10, the official closing day, r on Sunday, August 3.

There will be 16 sports. Fourteen ountries and territories will be Two territories, the iEIC and Niue Island, which took art in earlier games, have not ntered. The sports and entrants re: Archery— Papua New Guinea, Guam, French )lynesia. Trust Territory.

Athletics— Papua New Guinea, Solomon ls nds (men), Fiji, Guam, Nauru (men). New iledonia, New Hebrides (men), French Poly isia. Trust Territory, Tonga (men), Wallis and ituna. Western Samoa.

Basketball —Papua New Guinea, American moa (men), Solomon Islands (men), Guam, iuru (men). New Caledonia, New Hebrides ten), French Polynesia, Trust Territory (men).

Boxing —Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, ►ok Islands, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, New 'brides, French Polynesia, Trust Territory, allis and Futuna, Western Samoa.

Cycling —Guam, New Caledonia, French Poly sia.

Golf —Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, ii (men), Guam, New Hebrides (men), French lynesia (men). Trust Territory (men), Wallis d Futuna.

Judo —Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, lomon Islands, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, ench Polynesia.

Lawn Tennis— Papua New Guinea, Fiji (men), iam. New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Trust rritory, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa.

Soccer —Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, i, Guam, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, ench Polynesia.

Softball —Papua New Guinea, Guam, Nauru, ust Territory (men), Wallis and Futuna, estern Samoa.

Swimming —Papua New Guinea, Solomon Is ids, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, French Poly sia. Trust Territory.

Table Tennis— Papua New Guinea, Solomon lands (men), Fiji (men), Guam, New Caledonia, ench Polynesia, Trust Territory.

Underwater Spearfishing —Cook Islands, Guam, luru. New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Trust rritory.

Volleyball —Papua New Guinea, American Samoa (men), Guam, Nauru, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Trust Territory (men), Wallis and Futuna.

Weightlifting —Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Trust Terri tory, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa.

Yachting— Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Nauru, French Polynesia, Trust Territory, Western Samoa.

Programme details are: Archery —7.3o am, August 2,4, 5, 6.

Athletics —6 pm, August 2, 4, 5,6, 7,8; 3 pm and 5.30 pm, August 9. Basketball— -9 am and 6 pm, August 2,4, 5,6, 7,8, 9.

Boxing —7 pm, August 2,4, 5,6, 8. Cycling—

9 am, August 4,5, 6,7; 8 am, August 8 (road race). Golf —9 am, August 4,5, 6. Judo— -7 pm, August 2,4, 6. Lawn Tennis —B am and 2 pm, August 2,4, 5,6, 7,8; 8 am, August 9 (final). Soccer — 8 am and 4.30 pm, August 2,4, 5; 4,30 pm and 6.30 pm, August 7; 6.30 pm, August 8 (semi-final), August 9 (final). Softball —lo am, August 2,4, 5,6, 7, 8 (final). Soccer —8 am and 4.30 pm, August 2,4, 5; 4.30 and 6.30 pm, August 7; 6.30 pm, August 8 (semi-final), August 9 (final). Softball —lO am, August 2,4, 5,6, 7, 8 (final). Swim ming—9 am, August 2,4, 5,6, 7,8, 9.

Table Tennis —B am, 2 pm, 7.30 pm, August 2; 8 am, 2 pm, ugust 4,5; 9 am and 2 pm, August 6,7, 8; 8 pm, August 9 (final).

Underwater Spearfishing —B am, August 5,6, 7. Volleyball —l pm, August 2,4, 5,6, 7; 1 pm and 4.30 pm, August 8; 7.30 pm, August 9 (final). Weightlifting —3 pm, August 2,4, 5.

Yachting —l pm, August 2,5, 6,8, 9; 11 am and 3 pm, August 4.