big Games deal

Western Samoa’s big Games deal

Well-known Western Samoan journalist

Sano Malifa This

month joins the ranks of PIM columnists keeping readers informed through “The Month”.

The Western Samoan govern ment is determined that the Seventh South Pacific Games to be held in Apia on September 5- 16 are a big success. It is going into preparations diligently, and with both hands outstretched for

help from friends in the world community.

The two main reasons govern ment is plunging headlong into the Games’ organisation are: to dispel once and for all doubts that the country can host the Games, and to rake in foreign exchange in hopes it will help the country’s economic revival.

Faced with economic prob lems both externally and inter nally, the government is obvi ously viewing the Games as a rich source of much-needed foreign revenue. The Games’ Or ganising Committee alone ex pects to gross $1.2 million, while

local businesses, including hotels, are on the alert for new ideas for as much money as possible to be made during the Games.

To ensure that the Games are a success, the government has put back the country’s annual inde

pendence anniversary Flag Rais

ing Ceremonies from June 1 to be held together with the Games.

The idea is to provide incentives for Samoans living overseas to visit at the time.

But the postponement is not without its critics. Leader of the unofficial party and former prime minister Tupuola Efi is among them. Said he: “Independence celebrations will never be the same again. They have taken away sanctity from the occasion.

It means any future government may move the occasion to any day it likes.” But Prime Minister Tofilau Eti is unrepentant. He

has instead gone ahead looking for assistance for the Games’ facilities from overseas coun tries. Although no final arrange ment has yet been made, Tofilau has sought the assistance of the U.S. military for the Games ca tering services and accommoda tion. The United Nations De velopment Program is acting as the Games’ official caterer.

The first country to respond to Western Samoa’s call for help with the Games facilities two years ago was the People’s Re public of China. Tupuola Efi was prime minister at the time.

China gave a SUS 26 million interest-free loan to be paid back in 30 years, with a 10-year grace period. From that loan, $3.6 million went into construction of a gymnasium at the country’s national park, the Apia Park, where most of the sports will be held, plus a bowling green, two

Samoa Report

Sano Malifa on Western Samoa

grandstands, athletics tracks and a car park. The rest of the loan from China is earmarked for ag ricultural development.

Other countries which have sent donations include; Australia $230,000; New Zealand $201,000; Canada $77,500; and the United States $75,000. According to Minister of Sports and Culture, Le Mamea Ropati, all these donations were being used on the upgrading of the government schools in Apia, turning them into dormitory-style accommodation for the athletes.

He said part of the money would also be used on emergency facilities.

Asked to comment on the Games organisation, the Games’

Organising Committee Executive Director Seiuli Paul Wallwork said they would be completed a month before the Games. He was determined that the Games would be a success. Said he; “This will be the most successful South Pacific Games ever. I have said that we will have the most enjoyable Games with an atmos phere of friendliness and satis faction and that’s what we’ll have.”

On facilities for the athletes, Seiuli said they would be the best. “I have always stressed that there are two most important things for athletes: the food they eat and where they sleep. I have been to many South Pacific Games where those two things were not up to standard.”

Seiuli should know. He was three-times gold medallist in weightlifting in his class at the South Pacific Games. He was picked to head the Games’ Or ganising Committee from being principal of the government high school, Avele College. Seiuli said 2000 athletes from 20 coun tries would take part in the sports being offered. Of those coun tries, one, Micronesia is entering for the first time.

The sports are: Rugby union, soccer, netball, volleyball, box ing, squash, weightlifting, lawn tennis, table tennis, lawn bowls, athletics and basketball. All sports will be played at the Apia Park, except lawn tennis and squash which will be played at centres elsewhere.

The Games’ official carrier is Polynesian Airlines Operations

Limited (PAOL) which Seiuli said has assisted the Games or

ganisation “tremendously” with

promotion, fund-raising and

travel facilities.

In return for being named offi cial carrier, PAOL has given assistance amounting to “well over $100,000” for the Games preparations. PAOL, on its own initiative, has engaged the ser vices of Film Australia to do an official film of the Games.

But the smooth running of the Games does not guarantee com plete success, argue critics. They point out that there will be prob lems in accommodation and in transport for visitors to the Games. Of the 300 hotel rooms available, three-quarters had al ready been taken by mid-June.

One hotel, the Tiafau Hotel, was already fully booked by the

delegation from French Poly

nesia. It had also booked the entire car fleet of one of the three main car rental services.

To assess the range of accom modation facilities that could be made available, the govern ment’s tourist bureau has or ganised a committee whose job is to seek out landlords who have houses which could be rented out during the Games. The commit tee has placed advertisements in the local papers but it is not yet clear what its findings have been.

Samoans who will visit during the Games, will have no prob lems with transport or accommo dation. The critics agree they will be staying with their families

to whom they have been sending back “lots of money”.

Whether the Games will be the total success the government wants them to be will not be known until they are held.

Though one thing will be made clear then. Hosting the Games means playing host to everyone who comes over to watch them.

Sano Malifa.

Top: Entrance to the wooded park and its mountain back drop, where the main games events will be held. The partly built entrance gate in this picture has since been com pleted. Above: The gymnasium at Apia Park, built with assist ance from the Peoples Republic of China. - Samoa Observer pictures.