Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio delivered a keynote address to the members of Team Samoa, who are set to participate in the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, in a ceremonial gathering held at the Tourism House on Tuesday, 16th July. The event was attended by the Head of State of Samoa, Honourable Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, and leaders from various government departments and the private sector.
Deputy Prime Minister Ponifasio spoke about Samoa’s journey since its first appearance in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He noted, “Since 1984, when Samoa first competed in the Olympics in Los Angeles, USA, we have reached the zenith and intensity of high-level sports.”
He mentioned the remarkable achievement of Samoa qualifying for nine events in the Paris 2024 Olympics, describing it as “the highest number in the history of Samoa’s participation in the olympics.”
Ponifasio lauded the dedication and perseverance of Samoa’s athletes, coaches, and officials, making the comparison to much larger nations. He stated, “The perseverance and struggle of our athletes, along with the support and encouragement of coaches and officials, are equal to the quest for victory by the United States, China, Great Britain, Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.” Even with Samoa limited resources and population size, it does not stop Samoa striving for the best.
He affirmed, “Samoa is founded on God. This is our most sacred weapon.” He urged the athletes to prioritise faith, stating, “Let us give priority to the Supreme Coach in Heaven. He is the Master Architect, the Chief Coach, our guide, under whose capable hands we find shelter.”
“Let my voice represent the Head of State of Samoa, the Honourable Prime Minister, the Cabinet and Parliament, the esteemed Member of the Council of Deputies, and all of Samoa. I say, good luck Team Samoa.”
“Be brave, be strong, and let your paths be clear. Play fair and represent Samoa with honour at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.”
“May the holy servants of God who shelter and nurture us for our wellbeing be blessed.”
Lauga i le gagana Samoa
SAUNOAGA AUTU A LE SUI PALEMIA O SAMOA
AFIOGA TUALA TEVAGA IOSEFO PONIFASIO
TEAM SAMOA MO PALE, FARANI 2024 TA’ALOGA OLIMIPEKA
FALE O TURISI – ASO LUA, 16 IULAI 2024, 2:00PM
Lau Susuga i le Ta’ita’i o le Sauniga, Reverend Onosa’i So’o, EFKS Saoluafata
Afioga i le Ao Mamalu o le Mālō o Samoa,
Afioga i Minisitā o le Kapeneta,
Sui Mamalu o le Palemene,
Fa’auluuluga o Matāgaluega ma Fa’alapotopotoga Tumā’oti a le Mālō,
Sui mamalu o le Komiti Fa’atonu o le SASNOC ma Ta’aloga i Samoa nei
Fa’apea Faigapa’aga o Ta’aloga
Ma le mamalu ua aofaga potopoto i lenei aoauli i Matagialalua nei
O le a fatimagalo ia le āva nai Utumalamalemele, i le pa’ia o Samoa ua potopoto.
I le afifio o Tama ma ‘Āiga, ‘Āiga ma Tama, le usoga a Pule ma Tumua, Itu’au ma Alataua, Aiga i le Tai ma le Va’a o Fonotī. Ae a le tapua’i maimoa mai a le Faleagafulu, iā Sua ma le Vaifanua, Fofō ma Āitulagi, Sa’ole ma Saleaumua ma le Launiu na saelua, Fa’atui o le Motu, To’oto’o o le Faleula ma Tama a le Manu’atele.
O pa’ia na o Samoa o lea ua malu maunu ai le fogātia ma paū ai Matagialalua nei, aemaise le paia o le afioaga, I Sinave ma Uluomoto’otua, i le afio mai le alo o Sina, Afifio le Fuaifale o Salevalasi, Oulua Matua, Le Faletolu ma le Vainalepa. O le mea lea ou te se’e lili’a ai ma ou fa’apoipoi lā’au tu vanu auā e faigatā le pa’ia ua aofia. Ae magalo ia se tautalaga ona ua ao Samoa i le Talalelei.
E le’o toe pō malaē o le tausaga lenei o le Olimipeka 2024 i Pale, Farani.
O le fa’atumutumuga lea o ta’aloga i le lalolagi atoa. E iva (9) ta’aloga ua agava’a ai Samoa mo le Olimipeka – o se tulaga ‘aupito sili lea ona maualuga mo tala fa’asolopito o ta’aloga mo Samoa.
Mai lava i le 1984 talu ona ulua’i tausiniō Samoa i le Olimipeka i Los Angeles, Amerika, o lea ua tatou o’o i le ōgaōga ma le vevela o ta’aloga i ona tulaga mauāluluga. Ua tele ma tausagā taumafaiga a alo ma fanau aua fa’alāgāmaea o Ta’aloga Fa’avāomālō a le tatou Team Samoa.
Ae matau mai e le lalolagi, o Samoa o se atunu’u e pito i ititi i luga o le fa’afanua ole lalolagi, ma itiiti le aofaiga o ona tagata-nu’u, ae ua filifilia mai ai alo ma fanau ta’a’alo aua taaloga ole Olimipeka o tausaga 2024. O Amerika, Saina, Peretania, Aferika, Asia, Niu Sila ma Ausetalia, e faitau miliona ma miliona ona tagata-nu’u! E fa’apenā fo’i le tulaga o le tāmāoaiga. E faitau miliona tupe o lo’o tapenaina ai ta’aloga i atunu’u mamao. Silasila Samoa, o le finau ma le tauivi o alo ma nai fanau, fa’apea le tulei ma le fa’amalosi’au a faiaoga ma pulega, e tutusa lelei lava ma le sailimālō a le Amerika, le Saina, le Peretania, Aferika ma Niu Sila ma Ausetalia. Tatou patipatia le alofa ma le agalelei o le Alii ona o nei tulaga maoa’e ua tatou ausia.
O Samoa, e fa’avae i le Atua. O le a’upega aupito sili lea ona taua mo Samoa. Team Samoa, le paia e, ua poto i lenei itula, ae a lau silasila ma lau fa’afofoga’aga Samoa, lele e fa’availolo le susuga i le auauna paia a le Atua. Tatou ‘ave ia le fa’amua i le Tapa’ausili oi le lagi. O ia o le Ma’ata’isau Sili, o le faiaoga ta’iulu, o lō tatou ta’iala lea, tatou te malu ai i ona a’ao faimea mafai. Avea ia lo’u leo e fai ma fofoga taumomoli o le afioga ile Ao Mamalu ole Malo o Samoa, afioga i le Tama’ita’i Palemia, le Kapeneta ma le Palemene, le afioga ile Sui o Fono a Sui Tofia, ma le mamalu o Samoa atoa, ou te fa’apea atu ai, ia manuia lo outou alofaiva Team Samoa. O le a matou faia le faiva o le Fe’epo, o le a matou tu’i atu le muliāpapaga, auā lau sailigamālō. Ia toa outou loto, ia pouliuli outou tino, ae malamalama outou ala. Ia maua pea le ta’alo faatausala, ma ia fai outou ma avefu’a a Samoa i ta’aloga o lo’o faatautaia nei a le Olimipeka i Pale, Farani, 2024. Manuia le ‘aufaigaluega paia a le Atua o lo’o fa’afalemalu ma nōnō manū, auā so tatou manuia. Manuia tele lau tapua’iga mamalu Samoa. O outou māmā na.
Soifua ma ia manuia !!
