No match for Pita - topless Samoan athletes at Olympics closing ceremony [1]
Monday, August 9, 2021 - 17:33. Updated on Monday, August 9, 2021 - 17:50.
There was no well-oiled Pita Taufatofua at the Olympic closing ceremony last night, but it seems he has set a trend as three shirtless Samoan athletes showed up for the final athletes parade at Tokyo 2020.
The Samoan athletes led their delegation out for the closing ceremony in Tokyo, catching the attention of the public on social media as they paraded around the stadium.
The Daily Mail reported that viewers quickly commented about the Pacific Islanders on Twitter, questioning whether Pita would be the flag bearer for Tonga again.
During the ceremony, one Twitter user wrote ‘Has Tonga come out yet, asking for a friend..... #ClosingCeremony.'
Another said ‘I saw Samoa enter early on, and all the men were shirtless. I love that this is a growing trend in Olympic ceremonies! Haha!’
While a third said 'More topless men please! #ClosingCeremony #Olympics'.
Unfortunately, Tonga did not name an official flag bearer due to all athletes returning home after their events, including Pita.
The Olympics COVID-19 rules stipulate that all athletes must leave Japan within 48 hours of competing.
The only Tongan at the closing ceremony, was Pita’s coach, Master Paul Sitapa who posted on social media ‘Thank you Japan for hosting such an amazing Olympic. I was here at the opening ceremony and I’m still here to represent our Kingdom of Tonga at the closing ceremony’.
Two of Tonga’s athletes, Malia Paseka (Taekwondo) and Ronald Fotofili (Athletics) are on their way to Tonga while Kuinini Manumu’a (Weightlifter) and Amini Fonua (Swimming) have returned to the USA, and Pita Taufatofua (Taekwondo) is in Australia.
Swimmer, Noelani Day, who normaly resides in Tonga, has also gone to the USA to take up a scholarship at the University of Southern California.
USA won the most medals, with China in second place, and Japan in third. Fiji was the only Pacific Island nation to win medals, with gold and bronze won by the Men's sevens team and the Women's sevens team respectively.
The next Olympics will be held in Paris, France, in 2024.
- By Eleanor Gee.