Tongan heart-throb and Olympic inspirer Pita Taufatofua was one of eight athletes invited to stand with the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach last night, 25 February, at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
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Results for Olympics
Monday 26 February 2018
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PyeongChang, South Korea
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Friday 28 October 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Shot Put champion Valerie Adams will visit Nuku’alofa next week promoting healthy lifestyles and sports participation as part of her newly appointed role as New Zealand’s Pacific Sports Ambassador.
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Monday 19 September 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A colourful parade of floats, joined by Tonga’s famous Olympic flag bearer, Pita Taufatofua, and fellow Olympian Lusi Tatafu, along with the Tonga Police Brass Band, businesses, and sporting associations, went through central Nuku’alofa to mark the 2016 Olympic Day on Saturday 17 September. Photos by Eleanor Gee and Caroline Manu-Moli.
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Monday 22 August 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Surprise! Pita Taufatofua was not carrying Tonga’s flag at the Closing Ceremony of Rio 2016 this afternoon, instead he made a brief appearance on stage, oiled up and ready to party, much to the delight of his fans. The media were looking out for him. Here’s what some had to say:
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Sunday 21 August 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s famous flagbearer Pita Taufatofua (32) was the last of Tonga’s athletes to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic early this morning (Tonga time) in the Round of 16 Taekwondo Men +80kg. He commented on Instagram: "Felt soo privileged to get out on those mats and represent Tonga!"
Saturday 6 August 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Olympic flag bearer Pita Taufatofua became an instant internet sensation when he walked into the Opening Ceremony of the Rio Olympics today [noon-4:00pm Tonga time] dressed like a Tongan dancer glistening with oil. Pita's attracted a lot of attention for Tonga and also for his sport Taekwondo. After this he's sure to win some modelling contracts as the hottest man today in a town that's known for its appreciation of the body beautiful. Here's what Twitter and the news media are talking about:
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Tuesday 2 August 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Pita Taufatofua, Tonga’s first Olympic Taekwondo athlete, will aim for gold at the Rio Olympics competing in the Men’s +80kg division on Saturday 20 August. A lifetime of pain and struggle was worth every moment to reach the Olympics, says Pita when reflecting on his journey to becoming an Olympian. It cost him six broken bones, three torn ligaments, three months in a wheelchair, a year and a half on crutches and hundreds of hours of physiotherapy, and he has no regrets.
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Tuesday 7 August 2012
Houma, Tongatapu
When Valerie Adams won a Silver Medal for New Zealand in the women's shot-put at the London Olympics this morning, her extended family at her mother's native village of Houma, in Tongatapu was cheering with pride.
Monday 23 July 2012
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three athletes will represent Tonga at the Olympic Games in London and swimmer 'Amini Fonua is the flag bearer at the opening ceremony on, Friday July 27.
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Thursday 25 August 2011
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South Korea
Tongan athlete Paula Sitapa (33) won the Gold Medal at the Brick Breaking event at the Taekwondo World Hanmadang 2011 that was held on August 10-13 in Namyangju city at Gyeonggi Province in South Korea.
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Wednesday 17 August 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Returning last night from an pre-Olympics seminar in London, Takitoa Taumoepeau the Secretary General of Tonga's National Olympic Committee said today that he is targeting a small Tongan team of about nine to eleven athletes to compete in the 2012 London Olympics and that the London riots would not change their plans.
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