SAMOA – Following the devastation that one of the South Pacific’s biggest Cyclones (Yasi) had caused to Samoa in late 2012 the FISU Executive committee unanimously endorsed a request from the OUSA Secretary-General to look at supporting University Sport in Samoa during this time of recovery and rebuilding. The key elements of this request was to provide some assistance and resources to help USS run the 2013 University Games in Samoa and to provide some aid enable a team from Samoa to compete in the Australian Northern University Games.
With timing of travel and the OUSA ‘My Unisport Team Management’ workshop in American Samoa, Ms Donna Spethman was to be able to attend the Samoa University Games held at the National University of Samoa and to personally deliver the gifts of FISU merchandise to the Games participants. This event included a netball and rugby competition contested between the National University of Samoa (NUS), University of South Pacific (Samoa campus) (USP) and Oceania University of Medicine (OUM) and involved over 100 participants and many more spectators.
In addition to the University Games event, a meeting with the University Sport Samoa committee was held on Friday 26 April. This meeting focused on finalisation of plans for the University Games event including, operational items, competition structures and the event budget. Further discussions took also place to provide support and assistance to Samoa entering a team into the upcoming Northern University Games to be held in Brisbane Australia in July.
Competitions were held in the sports of Netball and Rugby on Saturday 27 April to determine the university champion for each sport. After a short opening ceremony, which included an official welcome, athlete oath and the presentation of the FISU Flag to USS President Mr Lipine Perestene by Ms Spethman, the Netball competition commenced with six teams split in two pools. After round games were completed, the final was between USP and NUS with USP winning by one goal.
The Rugby competition attracted six teams across the three universities. USP also ran away victors in the final with strong competition from the other teams. A women’s exhibition match was also held and all ladies showed enthusiasm and stamina for this particular game.
A final prize giving presentation was held where perpetual trophies were handed out to the winner of each competition along with prize money and prize packs for the best players and team with the best spirit.
Whilst the committee of University Sport Samoa are all volunteers, their dedication and commitment to university sport was evident in the enthusiasm of the students wanting to participate in organised sport. The resources provided by FISU to this event was a well spent investment in ensuring that University Sport Samoa can continue to organise sport for their students during what is a very difficult time of environmental disaster recovery in Samoa. The participating students were most appreciative of FISU support as without it they would not have been able to host this event. In addition there will now be a FISU presence at every USS activity thanks to Samoa now being the proud recipient of the FISU flag!
(Source: Martin Doulton OUSA Secretary-General & FISU EC member – Photos by Donna Spethman)
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