Commonwealth Games

Two major events on the calendar are the mini-Pacific Games in the Northern Marianas in June and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July.

With a view to the future, Sherysyn Toko and Majabelle Lawac will be joined by new coach Steve Anderson – long-time friend and advocate of Vanuatu Volleyball.

Anderson had previously coached the Vanuatu national team, over a decade ago, and has now returned to take up that mantle again and to see the Women’s team and the volleyball program through to its next phase, ahead of what is expected to be a busy decade ahead.

The event was held at the Mele Beach Millennium Park.

In a press release, Team Vanuatu chef du mission, Julia King said the event’s significance is to inspire youths and students to become part of Team Vanuatu for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

The event brought together students from seven schools who enjoyed beach sport activities throughout the morning. Activities included, beach soccer, beach volleyball, aquatics and few more.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have entered an 'exclusive dialogue' period with the state's authorities.

While a submission still has to be formally evaluated, Victoria is now likely to be officially confirmed as the host in April.

The Games would be primarily held in regional Victoria.

The news will come as a major relief to the CGF which had been trying to find a host to follow Birmingham.

Birmingham will stage the 2022 Games in July.

Team President, Debbie Masauvakalo said the approval of the team’s participation will take place next month, 31 March.

It will be approved by the FIVB and the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Masauvakalo confirmed that there are only 12 teams participating at the event.

Five teams will earn direct entry through the FIVB rankings.

England has qualified as it is the host of the competition.

The Commonwealth Games will be held from July 28 to August 8.

He was awarded the David Dixon Award, given out at each Commonwealth Games.

The award is based on an athlete's performance at the event, fair play, and overall contribution to their team's participation at the Games. It is chosen by the Athletes' Advisory Commission.

In a speech at the closing ceremony, the Commonwealth Games Federation President, Louise Martin said Liti exhibited great sportsmanship and consideration for his fellow competitors while competing at the highest level.

"I can't describe it - it's been a great Games and this just tops it off", said Liti

Weightlifting led the way with 11 medals while boxing, lawn bowls, athletics, rugby sevens and beach volleyball combined for another seven.

The Pacific won 18 medals on the Gold Coast, their best return since winning 21 at the 2002 Games in Manchester.

Samoa was the region's top performer with two gold and three silver medals, their highest ever Commonwealth Games tally.

Papua New Guinea won three medals in weightlifting, including Steven Kari repeating his gold medal effort from 2014.

Kwevira’s medal is the country’s first ever medal at a Commonwealth Games event.

The event was won by Welsh thrower, Hollie Arnold with a world record throw of 44.43 metres.

Marceline Moli, who also competed in the event, achieved a personal best throw of 16.17m and finished in fifth place.

Photo Twitter @TIVMagazine/Vanuatu Social Media 

Blake was the favourite to be crowned men's sprint champion at Carrara Stadium, but the Jamaican could only take bronze after he failed to recover from a poor start and South Africa's Simbine eased to victory in 10.03 seconds ahead of compatriot Henricho Bruintjies.

Ahye became the first woman from Trinidad and Tobago to win 100m gold, crossing the line in 11.14secs ahead of Jamaica duo Christania Williams and Gayon Evans on the Gold Coast.

Vanuatu is one of a number of Pacific countries who have never won a medal at the Games, and the team narrowly missed out on a place at the Rio Olympics.

Pacific Beat reports Vanuatu’s beach volleyball pair of Miller Pata and Linline Matauatu are ranked in the top four.

Coach Shannon Zunker says the duo are in excellent form

“The medal is within their grasp so we will approach it one step at a time. But we have set those goals and we would like to be there at the end of the week, “Zunker said.

About 100 noisy but peaceful protesters were contained by police outside the venue some 90 minutes before the official start of the ceremony, attended by Britain's Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The protesters, carrying signs that read "colonisation is not a game", had earlier disrupted a leg of the Queen's Baton Relay and demanded Britain's royal family members ask them for permission to visit "stolen" land.