Volume 2, Issue 2 P.O. Box 1301, , Ph: (685) 25033 Fax: (685) 26701 Website: www.oceaniasport.com

February 1st 2008 SASNOC Headlines: NEWSLETTER • Samoa Wrestling set their sights on Beijing Samoa Wrestling set their sights on Beijing

• 1 mile record broken by Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork Samoa’s Aunese Curreen “2007 was a good year for the The Samoan Wrestling team won “We qualified 1 wrestler to the • SICA nominated for ICC Global Award Samoa Wrestling Association”, 6 gold medals at the South Pacific 2000 Sydney Olympics, and re-elected President, Tuaopepe Games and were named the best because the sport was in-active • Samoan Umpires selected for Jerry Wallwork commented in the team overall in the points tally. within Oceania from 2003-2005, Badminton Oceania delivery of his 2007 Annual we could not qualify anyone for champs Report to the members of Samoa With the completion of the multi- Athens in 2004.” • SASNOC begins the purpose gym and 2 Olympic sized search for Beijing Youth Wrestling. Ambassadors wrestling mats to practice on, While most countries will be Samoan wrestlers kept up their bringing full teams, only 5 • Samoa Basketball Initiatives for All training regime after the South wrestlers will represent Samoa; a Pacific Games. mixture of experienced wrestlers,

juniors and upcoming athletes as And while most people were en- named below: joying the holidays, they have Coming Events: continued to train six days a week, 60kg - Faatasi Fauliuli twice daily and are currently 66kg - Iki Ekeroma Samoa International International Pro-Am Boxing undergoing a 6 week training (double gold medalist SPG07) Faleata Gym#1 PFL Team Samoa Wrestling in camp. 74kg - Laupule Ekeroma 2 Feb training for the SPG2007 84kg - Saufoi Togia The Oceania Championships will Oceania Badminton Champs, 96kg - Faamanu Afele Noumea, Tuaopepe congratulated the team be held in Canberra, on 3-8 Feb (double gold medalist SPG07) on an excellent performance at February 7th, 2008 and is an

Oceania Wrestling the South Pacific Games and said Olympic qualification event. .All Championships, Canberra, Coach - Ta'afua Iutana Iutana that he hoped that this gold medal winners from this Australia Manager/Referee - 7 Feb performance would bring in more competition will automatically Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork young people to play the sport, qualify for Beijing 2008. Cricket’s Lightning Cup, Samoa Gardens Ovals, Faleata before going on to congratulate 9 Feb—1 Mar the Association on the Samoa Wrestling have put in a The team is being coached by Taafua Iutana Iutana, a former Sports Administration Course organization of the Games. submission to government for SASNOC House, Faleata some funding to assist their team champion wrestler who has also 25-27 Feb With the Beijing Olympics to travel, but have also been been involved in the sport over SSF 2007 AGM commencing in just 6 months, doing their own fundraising with the past 15 years. Taafua has SASNOC House, Faleata Samoa Wrestling is pulling out all been doing a great job coaching 26 Feb a raffle draw. the stops to be a part of the the team and Tuaopepe is Games Venues Strategic action. “Wrestling has come a long way in confident we can qualify one or Planning; Venue TBC 28-29 Feb Samoa within the past 10 years.” two wrestlers for the Olympic Tuaopepe recalls. Games in Beijing China this year.

To submit an article, photograph or coming event for the next edition of the SASNOC Newsletter, please email [email protected] or [email protected] by Thursday 14th February 2008. SASNOC Newsletter: Volume 2, Issue 2

P.O. Box 1301, Apia, SAMOA Ph: (685) 25033 Fax: (685) 26701 Website: www.oceaniasport.com Page 2

1 mile record broken by Samoa’s Aunese Curreen http://www.hptcoceania.com

tres the athletes had to contend with a mini-tornado that suddenly Oceania IAAF Scholarship developed and swept across the athlete since October 2005, left to run the final 600m on his track, just by the finish line. In Aunese Curreen of Samoa, set a own. He won the race by over 30 the 400m he was again an easy new Pacific Island Record and a metres and there was another 80 winner coasting through at the Samoa National Record for the 1 metres further back to third place. finish to record 47.38 seconds. Mile of 4:07.55 when he won the He sliced off over five seconds 1 Mile race at Auckland’s Mt from his previous best time which Erwan Cassier in his first Smart Stadium during Hot Meet 9 was already a Samoa National competition since becoming an on January 26th, 3008. Record. Associate Scholarship athlete at the HPTC Oceania had wins in Paced through the first 800m by The other scholarship athletes who the Hammer (6kg) and Discus his training partner and fellow competed, also excelled. Niko (1.75kg). In the Women’s Ham- Aunese Curreen taking gold at the 2007 South Pacific Games. scholarship athlete Arnold Sorina, Verekauta convincingly won both mer event Ana Pouhila finished and the next two hundred metres the 100m and the 400m. His win- 3rd with a distance of 44.28m. by another of his training partners ning time in the 100m was 10.78. Michael Whitehead, Aunese was However, over the last thirty me- This weekend is the Hot Meet 10 SICA nominated for ICC Global Award Tina Macumber

In recognition of the tireless effort Representatives from SAF Asia-Pacific region’s “Best Spirit of that significant numbers of addressed the youths on some Cricket initiative in partnership players, coaches, clubs and facts about the deadly disease. with UNAIDS and UNICEF” for administrators that work to They also distributed playing cards their outstanding efforts on the develop cricket and make it which each displayed facts about World Aids Day event. SICA are accessible to more people, the ICC HIV/AIDS, as well as pocket sized now in the running to win the has held Annual Development brochures for each of the ICC’s Global award for this Program Awards for six years. participants. category which will be announced in mid-March. SICA will be up The Samoa International Cricket Red Cross volunteers were able to against winners from Europe, Association was nominated for spread awareness on the deadly “Run Out Aids Day” Africa, Asia, and the America’s. participants and volunteers. their “Run Out Aids” event which virus through song, dance and was held on December 1st 2007, theatre. The performance went for Cricket Development Officer Tina World Aids Day. SICA worked 40 minutes with over 60 youths Macumber would like to especially with the Samoan Aids Foundation aged 13-17 years witnessing the thank the three organizations that (SAF) and the Red Cross to make show. Red Cross volunteers did made this day such a success; this event so successful. an amazing job, interacting with SICA, Samoa Aids Foundation the audience and enabling the and the Samoan Red Cross. Five teams participated in the Run youths to get a clear understand- Out Aids Day, which saw them ing the facts about HIV/Aids. play two modified games of cricket From left: Cricket Development Officer, Tina Macumber, Skippy, as well as take part in the HIV/ Just yesterday SICA were Aids Ribbon & the symbol of the Perelini & Paul Tomane Aids awareness sessions. announced winners of the East- Red Cross SASNOC Newsletter: Volume 2, Issue 2

P.O. Box 1301, Apia, SAMOA Ph: (685) 25033 Fax: (685) 26701 Website: www.oceaniasport.com Page 3

Samoan Umpires selected for Badminton Oceania Champs Fa’afetai Ah Kuoi

Badminton Oceania has invited Sese Matautia so that they can be President of Badminton two Samoan umpires to umpire given the opportunity to develop Australia), Ian Williamson (Head and undergo extra training and their umpiring skills to a higher Referee) and Viva Stanford mentoring at the Oceania level. Badminton Oceania will (Assistant Referee) at the 2007 Championships in Noumea, New cover the costs of accommodation South Pacific Games. Caledonia from 3-8 February in New Caledonia. 2008. Badminton Oceania would like to These two umpires were talent give them the opportunity to Samoa Badminton is looking to identified by top officials; Robin develop their skills further so they SASNOC for technical officials Bryant, (VP of the International may officiate in other events in SPG2007 Mixed Team Event Medal Ceremony: funding to assist with the travel Badminton Federation; President the Oceania region. Gold—New Caledonia for Ms. Fuala’au Fa’atau and Mr. of Oceania Badminton; and the Silver—Fiji, Bronze—Samoa

SASNOC begins the search for Beijing Youth Ambassadors

Janita Adams

All National Olympic Committees All costs for this once in a lifetime Applications must include a 1 have been asked to nominate one experience are covered by the page essay between 350—400 boy and one girl between the ages Beijing Olympic Committee and words on “My Olympic Hero” of 16—18 years to participate in IOC Olympic Solidarity including and a one page application form. the 2008 Olympic Youth Camp. airfares, local transportation, accommodation and meals during All applications will be accepted There will be 600 participants the 2008 Olympic Youth Camp. by delivery, email, and post but from around the globe invited to must be in by February 29th, Beijing to celebrate the XXIX All candidates must be16 – 18 2008: Olympiad together. During the years of age by Aug 8th, 2008, be two week period (5-18 August, Samoan citizens, possess excellent For the application form and Contact Information for Beijing Youth Ambassador 2008), participants will be exposed conversational ability in English, more specific information Applications: to a variety of activities including excel in a local Olympic sport or please go to www.oceaniasport and click on ‘Samoa’ to get to our the Opening Ceremony, Torch sport(s) and have contributed to www.oceaniasport.com website, then on the news story Email: [email protected] or Relay, Olympic Events, City Sight- Samoa i.e. through volunteer or Phone: Janita on (685) 26707 seeing, Sports and Arts exchanges environmental protection “SASNOC Search for Beijing with campers and much more. activities. Youth Ambassadors”.

Samoa Basketball Initiatives for All Janita Adams

Over the past few months, Samoa “Pesega Youth Tournament” They also held an ‘Open Master Basketball has been busy planning down at Gymnasium #2 in Mixed Tournament’ (35 years events for not only their youth, Tuanaimato which has seen plenty and over) at the gymnasium over but for their masters as well. of youth signing up to be a part of 18th & 19th of January. the action. In the past two weeks, Samoa For more information please Basketball has been holding the contact Winegar Afitu.