By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo

TOKYO, 07 AUGUST 2021 (PACNEWS)

‍

‍Team Samoa in Tokyo did the country proud‍

Ambassador Faalavaau Perina Jacqueline Sila-Tualaulelei was proud of the achievement of Team Samoa – especially since three team members based in Apia did not travel because of the COVID-19 protection measures implemented to safeguard the population of Samoa. 

“The presence of Team Samoa [athletes based in other countries] here in Tokyo was a great boost and amplified visibility for Samoa as a nation.”

‍

Expected positive ‘spin-offs’ from Tokyo participation ‍

Ambassador Sila-Tualaulelei said Samoa, like other countries from Oceania present at the Games, expects positive ‘spin-offs’ from their participation at the Games.

“In that regard, there will be tangible benefits like opportunities for people to people exchanges, sports sponsorship and scholarship for our Olympians and sports people. We expect more interest from people in Japan to engage with our sports people as we saw after the Rugby World Cup two years ago.

“I’m sure they will be looking at our Olympians, now that we have that platform. We as Ambassadors now can go and look for opportunities that can benefit our Olympians and sports development in general back home.‍

‍

Yamagata and Iwaki support for Team Samoa adapted to COVID-19 restrictions‍

Ambassador Sila-Tualaulelei said two Japanese cities – Yamagata in the north and Iwaki in the Fukushima area were designated host cities for Team Samoa to train and prepare for the Olympics – but this was cancelled because of COVID19 restrictions.

“We had been working with these two cities since 2015 preparing them to host the teams – for the rugby world cup two years ago and now for the Olympics. They were very enthusiastic to welcome Team Samoa. Despite the social and economic hardships brought on by COVID19, both cities were prepared to host our team.

“Of course that had to be cancelled because it was almost impossible to adhere and comply with all the COVID restrictions that Japan had to put in place to get our team to go to our host cities. In the end we had to make a very difficult decision to cancel all those arrangements because the well-being of the athletes come first, Ambassador Sila-Tualaulelei said. 

But that didn’t stop residents of the two cities from cheering on Team Samoa at the Games.

“In Yamagata City, they created a Facebook page that had our athletes. All around these two cities they had posters and banners in the streets and shops of our Olympians. A three-metre-tall display of our Olympian Alexander Rose was on the main street of Yamagata. That’s the kind of fan engagement and support they were ready to give to Team Samoa.

‍

Commendation for Team Samoa’s Olympic performance

Commenting on the performance of the eight Samoan Olympians that competed at the Tokyo 2020 Games, Ambassador Sila-Tualaulelei applauded each of them for their courage and perseverance.

“It may not be the result that they expected but as a nation we support them in their endeavours, we supported them in what they had aspired to achieve here. 

“We are very proud of our young Olympians from Samoa and we hope and pray that they will continue to represent us in the next Olympic Games, if they still want to do that.”‍

‍

SASNOC and ONOC way of working together in Tokyo

Through the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC)’s shared services, Team Samoa was assigned a proxy-chef de mission (CdM) to oversee the day to day welfare of the athletes in Tokyo.

Team Samoa’s proxy-chef de mission is ONOC Chief Communication Officer, Inoke Bainimarama. He works in a proxy arrangement whereby Team Samoa CdM Nynette Sass provides primary direction and guidance from Apia. 

The same service was provided by ONOC to the Federated States of Micronesia National Olympic Committee in the direct appointment of Michael Kohn as chef-de mission for Team FSM. Kohn is Executive Officer to ONOC Secretary-General Ricardo Blas. This rapid response adaptive actions ensured all athletes received attention to their welfare in Tokyo. 

Speaking further, Ambassador Sila-Tualaulelei said, “This is something that is very unique to the Pacific in the way we interact and care for each other – the Pacific Way, or the ‘Ohana’ feeling and spirit of family working together.

“I have seen it work very well with ONOC’s shared services through support rendered to Team Samoa.

“Samoa truly appreciates ONOC’s shared services especially for small delegations like ours. Not everyone can afford to bring a doctor or a physio for that matter. Having ONOC shared services and pooling resources especially in technical and medical expertise is great for small island countries who cannot afford these services.

“We are very grateful to ONOC for the shared services that Samoa benefited from during the 2020 Olympic Games, said Ambassador Sila-Tualaulelei.

Samoa made its debut in the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 1984 and have competed in every Summer edition since.

Their only medal came at Beijing 2008 when weightlifter Ele Opeloge won a silver in the women's +75kg category.