Games doubters

The Month

Games doubters eat their words

country’s spirited pride which inevitably at that time was hav ing nothing better to do. No country more nationalistic and proud of it. How can anyone explain why all the stones along both sides of the road from Faleolo Airport to Apia had all of a sudden been painted white? No order had been given for this to be done_ And the volunteer workers who day and night make the guests not wanting. A catalyst

called devotion-to-country kept

them on their feet. But scattered devotions are unorganised and would have achieved little.

The games’ organising com mittee under Seiuli Paul Wall work did its job well. The effort behind all this must have been threatening to crumble.

There were also those who negotiated outside assistance which made the host of the games possible. The government of Tofilau Eti played its part well.

And the former government of Tupuola Efi did its bit too. It

So, it’s all over. And what an event. Two weeks of such pro found rapture and agony. It was Western Samoa’s moment to re member. A remarkable experi ence firmly imprinted in the country’s memory.

Western Samoa had not seen so many different people at any one time. Hundreds of them with different cultural backgrounds and modes of thinking came to gether in a friendly gathering to do honor to an interest they all share: sports.

Over the last two weeks, they engaged in fierce competition.

Yesterday afternoon, the winner

and the loser hugged and em braced. This is what the South Pacific Games is all about.

From its beginning to its end ing yesterday in an emotional ceremony at the Apia Park Stadium, the 7th South Pacific Games has been a huge celebra tion of Western Samoa. It was the final eradication of bother some doubts that it could host the games.

Those doubts have been quiet ly withdrawn. But perhaps the biggest doubter, departing Presi dent of the South Pacific Games Council, Commander Stan Brown, has had to publicly regret his.

At the games’ closing cere mony, he had nothing but praises to tell.

But the hosting of the games was largely the making of the

PlM’s Western Samoa cor respondent SANO MALI FA has been ill, and was unable to contribute our promised review of the 7th South Pacific Games held in Apia in September (PIM, Oct. pH).

For the next best thing we have decided to print in full the editorial in Mr Malifa’s newspaper The Samoa Ob server, of September 17, the day after the Games closing ceremony.

Mr Malifa brought out a special daily issue of The Observer for the duration of the Games. The paper is usually a weekly. All the daily issues are now avail able in bound form. They constitute a remarkable souvenir of the event. In quiries to the paper at P.O.

Box 1572, Apia.

initiated the negotiations for the biggest outside assistance from the People’s Republic of China which the present administration followed up on.

Canada, New Zealand, Aust ralia and the United States made contributions. Local companies, organisations and clubs made theirs. Individuals gave of their time.

Others gave the best in monet ary donations they could. And all so that the games could be held in Apia. The games have been held and how well they went!

But all the preparations would have achieved no purpose had not the countries of the region felt strongly of sport as the force binding the region together in good fellowship. We hope that the officials, athletes and guests had enjoyed their stay in Western Samoa and trust they would return.

Samoa Report

Sano Malifa on Western Samoa

Traditional dancing was a fea ture of the impressive opening ceremony, held on grounds which were built specially for the Games.