Cultural show for athletes
A cultural show put on for athletes and officials at the Games Village for Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games was described as "spectacular" for one athlete from Fiji.
Olaf Allen, representing Fiji in golf, said he has never experienced a cultural show like Wednesday night's one over the years of his involvement with sports.
“The cultural show was interesting; it is definitely a Pacific Island culture through everything that we have seen in the show. I was present during the last Pacific Games and at the Games Village we had back then, I don’t recall having a cultural show,” he said.
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Athletes rushed from their houses just to witness the performances taking place in the centre of the Games Village, Faleula.
The team from Samoa Tourism Authority showcased a various number of items for the athletes staying at the Games Village.
For Allen, the fire knife dance was the highlight of the show.
“The fire show was my favourite because not everyone can do it and it’s dangerous,” he laughed.
It was an eye-opener for Allen; he was able to see the many similarities that his
motherland shares with Samoa.
“They do a little bit of fire dancing in Fiji, also the women and men dancing together. We also have the war clubs. There are similarities in terms of clothing, for what the boys were wearing tonight the ‘ie lavalava’ - in Fiji we call it a ‘sulu'."
The Games Village also has a cultural village where students from Laumua o Punaoa Technical Centre showcase their carvings, paintings and demonstrate making tapa.
“I have been to a few Games and this has been one of the best, everything is clean and good. The people in Samoa are lovely, it has been awesome,” he added.
He applauds the host nation, particularly as Samoa had less time than usual to prepare.
“Samoa has done an amazing job and I couldn’t imagine how hard it would’ve been for the people to put it together and for the short time they had, this is just spectacular.”
