Most of the American Samoa teams competing in the Pacific Games have arrived in Apia.
This morning, American Samoa’s flag was raised at a welcoming ceremony at Mulinuu.
As each delegation arrives in Samoa, the hosts raise their flag and a school performs a dance from that country or territory.
Team American Samoa’s Chef de Mission Falefata Moli Lemana says the school which performed a siva to welcome them was Palauli Sisifo from Savaii.
Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale and his wife Marian, Solomona Aoelua of the Governor’s Office, Falefata, athletes and officials from American Samoa watched the performance.
Later they presented a gift of $500 to the school to thank them for honoring American Samoa.
Falefata said he told the school principal, teachers and students that American Samoa is counting on their tapuaiga.
“If our team does well, we expect to hear your loud cheers all the way from Savaii. And if we don’t do well, we expect you to shed tears with us,” Faleata said he told the school.
Commenting on the Games preparation the Chef de Mission said there were some transportation and accommodation hiccups but all have been sorted out and the hosts are pulling out all the stops to make the overseas contingents comfortable.
The opening ceremony for the Pacific Games at Apia Park is set for 6pm tomorrow.
Photos: Apulu Veronica Matautia Mortenson.
