By Katalina Siasau.

Team Tonga joined the grand opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics on Friday, 26 July, and were onboard one of the 85 boats carrying 6,800 athletes 6km along the River Seine towards the Eiffel Tower. Flagbearers were swimmer, Alan Uhi, and boxer, Fe'ofa'aki 'Epenisa.

Tonga's four athletes include swimmer Noelani Day, and sprinter Maleselo Fukofuka. Alan and Fe'ofa'aki completed their heats during the weekend, while Noelani and Maleselo will have their competitions on 3 August.

Leading the team is Chef de Mission, Viola Ulakai, joined by team attache Virginie Dourlet, team physio Tim Allardyce, TASANOC President Michael Bloomfield and Secretary General Netina Vea.

The French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Paris Olympic Games open.

At the opening ceremony, International Olympic Commitee President Thomas Bach said, "Some may say, we in the Olympic world, we are dreamers. But we are not the only ones. And our dream is coming true tonight: a reality for everyone to see. Olympians from all around the globe, showing us what greatness we humans are capable of. So I invite everybody: dream with us. Like the Olympic athletes, be inspired with the joy that only sport can give us. Let us celebrate this Olympic spirit of living life in peace, as the one and only humankind, united in all our diversity.”

Tonga's first female Olympian boxer

Fe'ofa'aki 'Epenisa, Tonga's first female Olympic boxer, competed in the Women's 60kg Preliminary rounds, against Vietnam's Thi Linh Ha, on 28 July. Fe'ofa'aki put up a strong fight however, lost to Vietnam 5-0 WP (win on points).

Fe’ofa’aki qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games through a wildcard, or universality, and placed to compete in the lightweight division.

She was a silver medalist at the 2023 Pacific Games, losing to Tina Rahimi (AUS) in the final.

Swimmer, Alan Uhi makes Olympic debut

Tall schoolboy swimmer Alan Uhi (17) is the youngest member of the Tonga team, and made his Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Alan swam in the first Heat of the men's 100m Backstroke on 28 July, at the Paris La Defense Arena, and finished with a time of 1:00.62.

He secured his universality spot by swimming 59.38 seconds at the 2024 Aus Championships in the 100m Backstroke and set his place as the number 1 ranked male athlete for Tonga.

Alan comes from Kolomotu’a, Tongatapu, and currently lives in Melbourne, Australia with his Aunt where he also trained for the Olympics. One of his coaches, Christo Stathis accompanied him to Paris.

Alan is  a local swimmer from Tonga, moving to Melbourne almost 5 years ago to pursue his swim and educational goals. He is currently a student at Sunshine College, Victoria, Australia.