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By Timothy Inifri Jr.
With the much anticipated 2023 Solomon Games officially kicked off today in Honiara Hon. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has encouraged the competing athletes to aim high and aim to be part of Team Solomons for the 2023 Pacific Games that will be held in November.
The opening ceremony today started with a parade by the athletes, from the Unity Square to Lawson Tama Stadium earlier in the morning.
Speaking to the hundreds of local athletes during the opening ceremony, Sogavare said that such events like the Solomon Games which is now in its 7th edition cements the desires and thinking of uniting this nation.
“Nothing brings us together more as a nation than our mutual love for sports. We witnessed that today, and over the next few days of course our national capital and our nation will unite behind you our sports people competing in the Solomon Games”, he said.
Sogavare added that the games is also a very important platform for the respective sports Federations in the country and the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) to scout exceptional and upcoming talents that could represent the nation in the upcoming Pacific Games.
“To all of you that compete in this year’s games, aim high, do your best and aim to be part of team Solomons that will proudly represent our country this year at the 17th Pacific Games and I know you can do it”.
“Many of you do not have proper facilities [to train] I understand, however it is my hope that each of you will showcase your talents and your potentials during this games, as some of you might even break into the Team Solomons squad to the Pacific Games”.
The Hon. Prime Minister also stated that the Government is committed to work with the provinces to help promote and strengthen sports education and also organizing sporting events.
“We will leave no stones unturned in searching for and building sporting talents in our nation. We are committed in promoting sports and recreation to ensure good health and wellbeing, we will invest in individuals and teams that can make Solomon Islands proud in sports competitions in the region and internationally”, he added.
“If we perform well in regional or international levels, our reputation grows. In the same if all of you perform well in this games the reputation of your province will grow and potential of Team Solomons to the 2023 Pacific Games will grow accordingly because every athlete in Team Solomon to the 2023PG is an ambassador of our country”, PM Sogavare reminded the athletes.
PM Sogavare states that the National Hosting Authority (NHA) for the 2023PG is also exploring ways and opportunities to develop sports facilities in the province to ensure athletes in provinces train and strengthen their level of competiveness.
With the Solomon Games last held in 2016, the Prime Minister said that he also looks forward in it becoming a regular event.
Meanwhile, matches for netball and both Indoor and Beach Volleyball kick-starts today in their respective venues in what will be a long week of sports.
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