Latest news with #SurangelWhipps
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Palau president on Pacific Mini Games: 'It is all about...lifting each other up'
President Whipps presenting a medal at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Plaau. 1 July 2025 Photo: Facebook / Office of the President, Republic of Palau Hosting the 2025 Pacific Mini Games is a significant undertaking - particularly for a small, remote nation like Palau. Speaking to RNZ Pacific about the preparations as the host country for the 12th edition of the Mini Games - their second time since 2005 - Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr acknowledged that the journey has been long and challenging, but more-so rewarding. "In 2022, we established the the chairman of the Games and the Organising Committee," Whipps said. "For example, construction for track and basketball began almost two years ago…and the basketball finished only a week before the Games. "But you know, you live on islands - it's tough to get facilities done quickly and I think, importantly, it involves planning." He added that some facilities, such as the 3x3 basketball court, were finished just a week before the competition started. There were also some logistical challenges, including the attendance of more athletes than anticipated. "We were scrambling for food and for bedding…but that's a good problem to have," Whipps said. "We were just blessed to have so many athletes from all across the Pacific showing up." Va'a competitors from Tahiti, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Palau, PNG, and the Norther Mariana Islands on day one. Photo: Facebook / Office of the President, Republic of Palau Whipps said that this year's event has been an embodiment of the Pacific spirit, with multiple athletes and attendees commenting on the balance between competitiveness and comradery. Competition is fierce, but true to the Pacific way, unity and pride outshine any outcomes. "I've been around attending all the different games," he said. "Listening to the Papua New Guinea and Fiji teams at the track and field, then the Vanuatu team…our Palau teams…it's just been that kind of Games, there's that spirit. "We are one family. I watch all of these players, they're going into nail-biting overtime… and hugging afterwards - that's what you want to see, right? It is about sharing, supporting, and lifting each other up." But beyond the spectacle of the Games, which wraps up at 6pm tonight, Whipps said the event has been great for locals, and will have a lasting impact on the community. Most facilities were built near the schools, with the intention they continue to serve as gyms and training venues for students long after the Games end. "These facilities are all around schools... they can continue to be used, maintained, and really help our children. Hopefully we inspire more young athletes to continue to develop and compete," Whipps said. "It is not just about today, it allows potential for future international events…it provides us with the tremendous opportunity to raise the level of competition and visibility." He added that the addition of a beach volleyball venue opened up conversations around a youth World Cup event for the sport. President Surangel Whipps Jr met with the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) president Fabio Azevedo. FIVB provided support for both indoor and outdoor volleyball courts for the Pacific Mini Games 2025. 7 July 2025 Photo: Facebook / Office of the President, Republic of Palau "We are meeting with the president of the Volleyball Federation that was here and seeing those opportunities; it's not only allowing us to develop our youth, but also our legacy, to bring in more tournaments and events. "Not only in the Pacific and Micronesia, but now thinking of events outside our region." Now, Whipps is looking ahead to the closing ceremony, with hopes for more accessible flights to Palau and greater economic viability in the near future, continuing the momentum that the Games has brought to the region. We are one ocean, one Pacific," he said.
RNZ News
29-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
'Rise together': 2025 Pacific Mini Games officially underway
2025 Pacific Mini Games opening ceremony. 29 July 2025 Photo: Facebook / 2025 Pacific Mini Games, Palau The 2025 Pacific Mini Games are officially underway after Sunday's opening ceremony formally launched the event in Palau's capital, Koror. Rain fell for parts of the ceremony, which saw athletes march in and the Games flame lit. Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr welcomed visitors and declared the Games open. He urged the athletes to compete fiercely and do their best. "Remember, lift each other higher, celebrate every victory, and rise together after every fall. Because in the Pacific, we are not just stewards of our islands - we are champions for each other. "Let these games be a shining example of what we can achieve when we stand together," he added. Pacific Games Council president Vidya Larkhan said the event is the biggest Mini Games to date, adding that the Pacific is lucky to be celebrating such and event when others in some parts of the world are suffering because of conflicts. "We should consider ourselves as people of the Pacific very fortunate in that when there is war waging in some parts of the world, we are able to meet and celebrate our Games in a peaceful and healthy environment," Lakhan said. "These 2025 Pacific Mini games is the biggest Games in the history of the Pacific Mini Games. I am informed that when the numbers were finalised, just under 2000 athetes and officials are here." PalauMini Games organising committee chairman Dr Patrick Tellei urged participants to work on strenthening the bonds between the Pacific countries, while enjoying the spirit of competition at the Games. "Compete to the best of your abilities, connect and network with each other, make friends and use the sport. Please strengthen the bonds between our countries and their people," he said. Monday's action begins at 8:30am local time (11:30 NZT) and includes baseball, softball, swimming, va'a, volleyball and wrestling. Photo: Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games/YouTube screenshot Northern Marianas runner Tania Tan is aiming to repeat her 2023 Pacific Games success in Palau. Tan, 23, is entered in the 5000m, 10,000m, and half marathon. She holds the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) national records in the 5000m and 10,000m among other middle-distance events. The Mini Games athletics competition will run 4-9 July at Palau National Track and Field. Tan said training out of Hawai'i has given her an edge. "There's a good mix of terrain, climate, and a competitive running community pushing me to improve," she said. "I've focused on building a strong base with long runs, tempo work, and strength training - while also making sure to recover and stay injury-free." Tan said she sees the expectations from fans and coaches as motivation rather than pressure. "Pressure is a privilege, so I feel honored that this time around, I will be the one to look out for," Tan said. "All we can do on race day is give our best." Northern Marianas Athletics secretary-general Robin Sapong noted that the team had a solid pre-race session last Saturday. "Tania looks strong and healthy. She just needs to run her race. "Other countries are fielding three runners per event, suggesting team tactics. On paper, a runner from New Caledonia leads the 10,000m this season, so it should be competitive." Teams gathering together right before the Opening Ceremony began. Photo: Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games/Facebook Tan will be joined by Maria Quitugua, Kaithlyn Chavez, Victor Nash Santos, Theodore Rodgers, Simon Tang, and Lyle Andrew - many of whom medaled at the 2024 Micronesian Games in Majuro. Elias Rangamar, who coaches the team locally, said: "We only have a few athletes going to Palau, but these are competitive ones with real chances to medal or make finals." Quitugua, gold medalist in javelin at the Micro Games, will compete in javelin and the 100m run. Andrew, Majuro's hammer throw champion, will enter hammer, discus, and shotput. Chavez will race the 800m and 1,500m, Santos is entered in the 1,500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m, while Tang will run the 110m and 400m hurdles. Out of the Pacific Games Council's 24 members, 20 nations will compete in athletics, including associate member Australia, which is sending 21 athletes. Rangamar said this level of competition will provide invaluable experience for the Marianas athletes: "This is a great chance to go up against the best in Oceania." Tan expressed gratitude to supporters: "First, I want to thank my family and community back home in Saipan - they've always supported me, even from across the ocean. And to my running friends in Hawai'i, the Northern Marianas Sports Association, and everyone behind the scenes - this journey is never solo." Team Marianas fields a 161-member delegation to the Mini Games.
RNZ News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
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.
RNZ News
01-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Palau president wants Taiwan to get a fair go at PIF
President Surangel Whipps Jr. at his first state visit to Taiwan in May 2025 after the inauguration of his second term. Photo: Supplied/ Office of the President Palau's president wants to see Taiwan given full access at this year's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' meeting. It was great to see 17 out of 18 leaders in Tonga for last year's meeting, Surangel Whipps Jr said - a sense of unity he wants to continue. "That's the record since we've gotten back together. Let's ensure that that continues, because that's what we need to see." He said he has heard that "there's been some difficulty in Taiwan gaining access". Whipps asked the PIF team to make sure they are doing all that it's responsible to do, to make sure the forum conference is a success, and everybody's there that's supposed to be able to participate. A Solomon Islands Government spokesperson said at this stage the government is not in a position to comment on participation or related arrangements for the PIF Leaders' Summit. They pointed out that the registration process for the summit has not yet opened and formal invitations will be issued in due course. "As host, Solomon Islands continues to work closely with the Forum Secretariat and Forum Member countries on all preparations." Whipps has just arrived back from a state visit to Taiwan, where its foreign minister Lin Chia-lung expressed his country's appreciation for Palau's consistent support on the international stage. Three Forum members - Tuvalu, Palau and Marshall Islands - have diplomatic ties with Taiwan and not China. Taiwan has been a development partner since 1992. China has been a dialogue partner of the PIF since 1990. Last year, RNZ Pacific captured China's representative to the meeting in Tonga asking Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown to change the final communique which recognised Taiwan and China separately. Earlier this month, Solomon Islands' prime minister Jeremiah Manele warned government workers against engaging with "Taiwan". In a statement, Jeremiah Manele reaffirmed his government's commitment to the One-China Policy. The ABC reported a newly appointed government minister was pressured by China to quit an international group critical of its policies. Beijing's Embassy in Honiara said the allegations are baseless. It said China will never interfere in Solomon Islands internal affairs and also firmly oppose any other countries' interference in Solomon Islands' internal affairs. The president of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, and top diplomats from Niue, Tonga, Nauru, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa have been in China for a two-day meeting. In a joint statement, published to the website of China's foreign affairs ministry, the parties said: "All parties recognize that there is but one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. "China firmly opposes 'Taiwan independence' in all forms and commits to realizing national reunification, which has gained wide understanding and support at the meeting. "China firmly supports Pacific Island countries in upholding their sovereignty and independence." Meanwhile, a regional architecture review (RRA) has entered its final stage. It's the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' response to the increasing interest from a growing number of Forum dialogue partners wanting a seat - and a say - at the regional decision-making table. Palau's president has made it clear to the RRA committee that, "it is important that all our partners are able to be present at PIF".
RNZ News
01-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Palau president wants to Taiwan to get a fair go at PIF
President Surangel Whipps Jr. at his first state visit to Taiwan in May 2025 after the inauguration of his second term. Photo: Supplied/ Office of the President Palau's president wants to see Taiwan given full access at this year's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' meeting. It was great to see 17 out of 18 leaders in Tonga for last year's meeting, Surangel Whipps Jr said - a sense of unity he wants to continue. "That's the record since we've gotten back together. Let's ensure that that continues, because that's what we need to see." He said he has heard that "there's been some difficulty in Taiwan gaining access". Whipps asked the PIF team to make sure they are doing all that it's responsible to do, to make sure the forum conference is a success, and everybody's there that's supposed to be able to participate. A Solomon Islands Government spokesperson said at this stage the government is not in a position to comment on participation or related arrangements for the PIF Leaders' Summit. They pointed out that the registration process for the summit has not yet opened and formal invitations will be issued in due course. "As host, Solomon Islands continues to work closely with the Forum Secretariat and Forum Member countries on all preparations." Whipps has just arrived back from a state visit to Taiwan, where its foreign minister Lin Chia-lung expressed his country's appreciation for Palau's consistent support on the international stage. Three Forum members - Tuvalu, Palau and Marshall Islands - have diplomatic ties with Taiwan and not China. Taiwan has been a development partner since 1992. China has been a dialogue partner of the PIF since 1990. Last year, RNZ Pacific captured China's representative to the meeting in Tonga asking Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown to change the final communique which recognised Taiwan and China separately. Earlier this month, Solomon Islands' prime minister Jeremiah Manele warned government workers against engaging with "Taiwan". In a statement, Jeremiah Manele reaffirmed his government's commitment to the One-China Policy. The ABC reported a newly appointed government minister was pressured by China to quit an international group critical of its policies. Beijing's Embassy in Honiara said the allegations are baseless. It said China will never interfere in Solomon Islands internal affairs and also firmly oppose any other countries' interference in Solomon Islands' internal affairs. The president of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, and top diplomats from Niue, Tonga, Nauru, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa have been in China for a two-day meeting. In a joint statement, published to the website of China's foreign affairs ministry, the parties said: "All parties recognize that there is but one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. "China firmly opposes 'Taiwan independence' in all forms and commits to realizing national reunification, which has gained wide understanding and support at the meeting. "China firmly supports Pacific Island countries in upholding their sovereignty and independence." Meanwhile, a regional architecture review (RRA) has entered its final stage. It's the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' response to the increasing interest from a growing number of Forum dialogue partners wanting a seat - and a say - at the regional decision-making table. Palau's president has made it clear to the RRA committee that, "it is important that all our partners are able to be present at PIF".
