Security support for Mini Games as Team Palau confirmed
Team Palau welcomed at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara. 19 November 2023
Photo:
RNZ Pacific/Junior Maealasia
A team of regional police officers will assist Palau police during the Pacific Mini Games, which the country will host from 29 June.
The country's president, Surangel Whipps Jr, told
RNZ Pacific
he and his countrymen and women are excited about
hosting the Pacific's athletes and officials
.
The
Island Times
has reported Palau's Minister of Justice Jennifer Olegeriil announced they are getting around 16 regional police officers from across the Pacific to support Palau law enforcement during the Games.
The report stated Palau is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this week with a regional policing deployment agency composed of more than 10 Pacific Island member countries.
The
Island Times
reported the agreement includes collaboration with the Australian Federal Police.
Under the agreement, officers from member nations will be deployed to assist with security operations throughout the Games.
Olegeriil has also urged the public to help ensure a safe environment during the Games.
President Whipps said Qantas is adding extra flights to Palau for the Game, which is a big boost as well.
"We did hear from Qantas that they added on another flight on June 28 to make sure that we get more athletes coming up here on that day," he said.
Surangel Whipps Jr in Rarotonga.
Photo:
RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
"So, two flights from Brisbane that day, and we're excited about that.
"We hear so far 1,700 athletes are coming. I think that's pretty good for a Mini Games.
"There's nothing like sports to bring us together."
He added one of the exciting programs they have put in place is training young journalists who can help in the Games' coverage.
"There's a training program to get 20 youths to be part of the media team, and so they're training them so they can go around and do a 30-minute coverage after every day," he said.
"So, training young Palauans, hopefully more people into the media and communication space, which is so much needed."
Meanwhile, the Palau National Olympic Committee has confirmed 225 athletes for the Mini Games.
Secretary General Baklai Temengil-Chilton confirmed that is the maximum number of athletes any country can field.
Palau's confirmed numbers mean they will have the largest team among the 22 participating Pacific nations.
The Solomon Islands have confirmed 201 athletes, which would be the second largest at the Games.
Fiji will have 187.
The
Island Times
report stated nearly half of Palau's athletes are under the age of 19.
Team Palau swimmers are in Australia for pre-Games conditioning, while the baseball team recently returned from two months of training in Taiwan.
Frank Kyota, president of the Palau National Olympic Committee, told local media earlier that investments made to upgrade and expand Palau's sports infrastructure - including national gyms, fields, and facilities - will serve the broader community for years to come.
He said the event give Palauan athletes the opportunity to compete at a high level at home.
"Look at what sports can do," Kyota said.
"It brings (nations) together … and helps us focus on projects that may not have been done otherwise."
The Games officially open on 29 June 29 and close on 9 July.
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