Go Team Norfolk - 17th Pacific Games 2023 Opening

This has been a busy week for the Norfolk Island teams as they arrived in the Soloman Islands for the 2023 Pacific Games. The sports teams and athletes have all competed this week with amazing results. With the support of those over there in Honiara or back home on Norfolk Island, we have followed the social media updates, the broadcast videos on TV and You Tube, plus the updates on the Norfolk Island Radio Station.

Congratulations Ada Nebauer winning a Bronze in the Va’a Paddling Women V1 500m sprint on Monday. This medal placed Norfolk Island on the medal board and such a proud moment for Ada and her coach, her Mum Louise Donald. Ada also raced on Thursday in the V1 Marathon 16km Women’s race.

Check this page for the Va’a results and Ada’s results.

2023 Pacific Games - Solomon Islands (gems.pro)

At the Athletics, Brentt Jones came 6^th out of 8 in the hammer throw. His daughter Talevah Jones throw three personal bests in the hammer throw and went through to the finals and finished 7^th in the field of 14 competitors. Congratulations, we are all very proud of you, well done. Talevah spoke on the radio on Thursday morning and said, “she was younger than many of the athletes and it has been a great experience”. Talevah is aged 17 years, also competed in the discus and shot-put competitions.

The Norfolk Island Touch Rugby team had a busy week with three games a day, proudly winning two of their games and one draw. They played off for 5/6 position the game was against the Cook Islands and were defeated 6-3. It has been an unreal and great experience for our Norfolk Island team who have done themselves proud.

What a week it has been for the Norfolk Island Netball Team and their manages and supporters. Three big games started with playing the Samoan A team,

even though this was an expected loss, our Norfolk Island team kept the score lower than four years ago in Samoa at the last Pacific Games. The following day was the massive competition against the home team Soloman Islands, who scored the first goal of the game and won the first quarter, but our Norfolk Island team proudly fought back and took the lead and WON, they said “it felt like they had won GOLD”. On Wednesday they returned to the indoor courts and played against the Fiji team who are ranked 16^th in the world. Our girls were pleased to keep the Fiji score under 100 points. On Friday is their final game, the play off game against Cook Islands. This game will be broadcast, and I know many will be watching and cheering “Go Norfolk Island!!!”

Norfolk Island Chef de Mission Mal Tarrant has been unwell during the week, and on Thursday he spoke on the Norfolk Island Radio Station and thanked the managers and teams for their support while he was unable to attend the sporting events. Adjusting to the heat in Salomon Island was challenging for all of the team members and keeping hydrated during the heat of the day and staying in the shade was the advice given to the teams.

Mal, along with Brentt and Taleuah Jones are departing the Soloman Islands on Friday 1 December and due to arrive home on Norfolk Island on Saturday on the Brisbane flight.

This weekend is the Closing Ceremony on Saturday 2 December, and I am sure it will be an amazing event the teams will enjoy, and I wonder who the flag bearer for Norfolk Island will be? There have been around 5,000 athletes and officials from 24 nations and territories gather for the 17th Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. Thank you to the Soloman Islands for hosting this massive sporting event. The 2027 Pacific Games, officially known as the XVIII Pacific Games, and commonly known as “Pirae 2027”, is an upcoming continental multi-sport event for South Pacific countries and territories that is scheduled to take place in Pirae, Tahiti, French Polynesia from 24 July to 8 August 2027.

As the Solomon Islands 2023 Pacific Games come to an end, the Norfolk Island teams will travel to Brisbane and then expected back home on Norfolk Island on Tuesday 5 December. They would love to have sullen at the airport to welcome them home. I know we all feel very proud of everyone of our Norfolk Island Representatives.

Here are a few photos from the week from social media, thank you to everyone who shared the updates and team photos. If you wish to read the results check out these internet sites as well as local team Facebook pages.

2023 Pacific Games - Solomon Islands (gems.pro)

Facebook (Norfolk Island Netball Association)

Facebook (Norfolk Island Touch Football)

Facebook (Athletics Norfolk Island)

Norfolk Island Amateur Sports and Commonwealth Games Association | Facebook

Congratulations Ada winning Bronze Medal and well done to our Norfolk Island teams.

Safe travels and see yourlie when you arrive home on Norfolk Island.

Betty Matthews