Mini Games: A venue for unity

KOROR, Palau—Both Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. and South Pacific Games Council president Vidhya Lakhan had their turn at greeting participants of the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games in Palau, and both expressed similar feelings of the event being a golden opportunity for island nations to unite.

“The SPG Council was established with the objective of creative friendship and brotherhood amongst the people of the South Pacific,” Lakhan said. “On this occasion, Palau is providing us with the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and to make new friends and I know that this opportunity will not grow abyss.”

For his part, Remengesau encouraged everyone taking part in the Mini Games to learn each other’s cultures and heritage.

“It is on the island that we find our past and move towards our future together. A future that is uniquely Pacific,” he said.

Remengesau further stressed the important role sports plays in the region, and urged all to put aside differences in hopes of building friendships.

“Let there be peace amongst our island nations,” he said. “Let sports be the transportation to peace. Let no politics ever stop these games. Let sports mend all national and regional differences. Let our young people grow through sports and let us continue to invest in their future.

“[And] so let us vast in the performances of our young athletes and let us enjoy this rare opportunity to remember our past and to move without fear into our national and regional futures,” he added.

The 2005 Mini Games is the first held on Micronesian soil, and recognized the efforts of the Palauan leadership and community as they prepared for the hosting of the over 1,400 participants.

“I know, from my previous visits to Palau, that the organizing committee went through great lengths to ensure that individual sport competitions are connected in the best of conditions, with the best of equipments, and in accordance with the respective international federation rules and regulations,” he said. “Those of us who are visiting Palau, and there are many of us who are here for the first time as guest of the government and the people of Palau, we would like to say thank you…for giving us the opportunity to visit your country and this part of the world,” said Lakhan.

He also expressed his confidence in Palau being a good host for all visitors.

“I know that Palauans will be good hosts,” he said “Therefore, I urge all the delegations to be good ambassadors of their respective country and to enjoy the competition, enjoy the Palauan hospitality, and have an enjoyable stay in Palau for the next two weeks.