The Cook Island Games is a two-week event with over 3300 athletes ranging from youth age groups to open grades and masters grade competitions. It is a sporting event that ignites island pride and passion, connects and bonds people, and provides an athlete-centred competition.
The theme of the 2022 Games was ‘Together as one we can move a nation’, and it included over 25 sports ranging from athletics and traditional games, to vaka paddling and numerous team sports including touch football.
The Touch event was held over three days with over 34 teams participating, and included Under 14 and Under 18 mixed teams, men’s and women’s open grades, and over 45 mixed teams.
The competition was of a high standard with lots of preparation beforehand from all the competing teams. There was fierce competition between the islands and particularly in the men’s and women’s open grades, with the finals games for the men’s competition going to a drop off.
This national competition has competing teams from the various islands across the Cook Islands and provides a pathway for youth development and national selection for teams to compete in the upcoming 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, and the long-term goal of representation in the Touch World Cup, being hosted in England in 2024.
Meitaki to the Cook Islands aiga for hosting another successful Cook Islands Games post the COVID-19 pandemic – particularly with the numerous challenges over the last two years, the Cook Islands nation has continue to stand stronger together.
FIT Member Relations Commission, Rhonda Togipau, said; “It’s a pleasure working with Daphne Brown and the Cook Islands Touch Association – we are thankful for their ongoing contribution to the game of Touch, as they prepare for the 2023 Pacific Games, and their long-term goal of competing at the 10th Touch World Cup, hosted in England in 2024.”