Australia is supporting over 170 athletes from 11 Pacific nations including Tonga to prepare for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in Tokyo from 23 July to 8 August.

The announcement was made by Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator the Hon. Zed Seselja on 8 June, at an official event in Sydney, Australia.

With many Pacific athletes facing significant challenges in completing final training programs and critical qualifying events due to the impact of COVID-19, Senator Payne said the support will be delivered by the Australian Olympic Committee and their Pacific counterparts.

“It’s about coaching, it’s about travel, it’s about accommodation, it’s about medical support, it’s about enabling participation in those pivotal final qualifying events or training in a high-performance environment, pre-games,” she said.

“Sport provides a powerful linkage between countries in our region and it is important our talented sports people have the opportunity to compete at an elite level to do themselves and their nations proud.”

Tongan Olympian, Pita Taufatofua, who has been training in Brisbane, Australia, was pleased with the announcement.

“I’m coming into my third Olympics and to know that there is some backing, some funding, to help us get there and hopefully towards Paris, LA, and Brisbane [Olympics], it’s a game changer for us, you know accommodation, food, coaching, that’s what we need,” he said at the event.

“This is amazing and I’m so glad and so honoured and privileged to be a part of this.”'

Tonga

Meanwhile in Tonga, TASANOC Secretary General Takitoa Taumoepeau told Matangi Tonga the program benefits the Australian based Tongan athletes and those overseasn and in Tonga.

Tonga has so far confirmed Olympic spots for athletics (1), swimming (2), and taekwondo (2), as well as one paralympian.

“Unfortunately, with the border closed, they cannot travel to Australia,” he said, as they will need quarantine, and it takes up time.

“If the border was not an issue, they could travel to Australia.”

He said there were no qualifying events in Australia to date for Tongan athletes. Athletes who could not attend a Olympic qualifying event "have no chance and therefore miss out on the Games".

Takitoa was optimistic there could be further support in the future.

“If we succeed (all 11 Pacific NOC's) and the program goes well, there is a chance for further assistance towards Commonwealth Games and future Olympic Games too.”

Ongoing support would be welcomed by Pacific athletes who are often faced with challenging training conditions, and minimal financial support.

The 11 Pacific nations under this program include Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.