Pacific Games on show
by Amy Williams
Sports fans will be able to watch the Pacific region’s sporting superstars, thanks to Maori TV.
Starting this week, Maori Television will broadcast daily highlights from the thirteenth South Pacific Games in Samoa.
The games, which are held every four years, include 33 sporting events contested by more than 4000 participants from 22 countries.
The first South Pacific Games were held in Fiji in 1963.
Competitors this year include medallists from previous Commonwealth games, including Papua New Guinean swimmer Ryan Pini and boxer Warren Fuavailili from Samoa.
Popular team sports like netball, football and rugby sevens are also on show, as well as Vaa or outrigger canoeing (known as Waka Ama in New Zealand).
Maori Television will broadcast coverage of the games daily until September 9, at 2pm and repeated at 11.30pm.
Three hour-long specials about the games will also be screened.
‘Samoa 2007 - Live the Dream’ will be shown on Sundays at 4pm, starting September 23.