The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced last Tuesday 15 November that it awarded broadcasting rights to Sky TV for Tonga, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

IOC Finance Commission Chairman Richard Carrión, who led the negotiations, stated “We worked very successfully with SKY for the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games, and therefore are pleased that we are able to continue our partnership. SKY will deliver extensive coverage on its platforms in New Zealand, including free-to-air coverage, whilst also ensuring that coverage is available in neighbouring territories in the Pacific Islands.”

Richard Last, SKY’s Director of Sport said: “It’s massively rewarding to announce SKY Sport will be screening the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. Our customers love watching worldwide sporting events and it doesn’t get any bigger than the Olympics.”

Next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia will be a momentous occasion for Tongan sport as it will be the first time for a Tongan athlete to compete in the Winter Games. Tonga's debut comes in the form of 26 year-old Bruno Banani from ‘Eua. The popular underdog who has captured the attention of many winter sport fans, will represent Tonga in the sport of Luge.