Home / samoa /
Federation to help Ele Opeloge if medal confirmed from I.O.C.
(Photo: Ron Gaunt/photosport.co.nz)
By Deidre Fanene, 21/11/2016
The Samoa Weightlifting Federation and the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee are still waiting on the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C) for their final decision on Ele Opeloge's medal.
Chief Executive Officer of S.A.S.N.O.C, Faamausili Taiva Ah Young said they are waiting on the final decision from I.O.C.
"We haven't had any update on Ele's medal," he said.
"It's the same story the International Federation have already approved her medal and we also support it but the final decision comes from I.O.C," he said.
"We know it's coming but it's just a matter of time and hopefully it's any time soon."
Faamausili said the I.O.C is probably making sure that they cover all aspects before making the announcement.
"I think they are just going through some legal things just to make sure there will be no appeals and all that," he said.
"Because it's one thing to bring the medal but it's another thing to be careful of court cases and all those things, so they are probably going through some legalities of it.
"I also know the there will definitely be countries that will appeal the matter especially those who are involved.
"So I guess what I.O.C is looking at is making sure that they cover all areas of concern."
But the President and Coach of S.W.F. Tuaopepe Asiata Wallwork is adamant that Ele Opeloge will win the medal.
"Ele Opeloge will win the Silver Medal and that's it, finish," he said.
"We are just waiting on the official announcement but she will win the silver medal."
Ask if he had any contact with the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in regards to the matter Tuaopepe said it has nothing to do with the prime minister.
"No I haven't and what do I have to contact the prime minister for?" he said.
"This is an I.O.C. issue and the prime minister can't do anything all he can do is to wait for the result to be official and that's it.
"I don't know if the government is giving Ele a reward or not, that is entirely up to the government.
"There is no pressure from us and I am not going to tell them that they have to give this. No that's not my say and that is up to the government."
As to whether the Federation or SASNOC will be giving a reward for Ele if the government decides not to, Tuaopepe said both the Weightlifting Federation and S.A.S.N.O.C. have no money to give.
"What should we do? The Samoa Weightlifting Federation has got no money even S.A.S.N.O.C, we have got nothing," he said.
"We are struggling just to train so there's not much we can do; our hands are tied."
However, he said what the Federation can do to is to help reapply for her scholarship from I.O.C.
"Ele had a scholarship from I.O.C and she was on it before and it went right through but it was just this year she didn't continue her training in New Zealand," he said.
"She had lots of family commitments hence why she didn't compete in the Oceania Championships.
"She wasn't eligible for the Olympic Games because she has to compete in the Oceania Championships in order for her to compete in the Rio.
"[But] we don't blame her because she has a lot of commitments she's got children and her husband works too so she didn't have time for training.
"However, now she wants to get back to training so we will assist her with funding and that is how we can help her, but we can't give a big thing for her because we are an independent N.G.O. we don't have money.
"We don't get paid as well. If we were getting paid to do this it would be nice, but we are not asking to get paid too we do this for the country even our athletes they don't get paid but they are doing all of this for the country.
"I mean it's nice to get a reward when we win such an event form the government but we cannot demand any money because that is not our say."
The president also went on say that S.A.S.N.O.C. is also not in the position to give Ele any bonus.
"All we can do is assist her in re-preparing and fund her preparations," he said.
"To make she gets a weekly allowance, and pay for her transport and food and everything and I reckon that is a big assistance for her; that's how we can help her.
"[But] we cannot help financially to give her a bonus."
Tuaopepe revealed that the Federation had already promised Ele a vacation for her and her family to Samoa if I.O.C. confirms of this.
"If her medal is confirmed then we will pay for her husband and her children's airfares to come across and give them some pocket money to spend during the holidays here," he said.
"It will be to the limit of SAT $10,000 that is the maximum we can go to and the Federation will do this for her.
"We have already promised her that and she deserves it too.
"That's what we are going to do. That was already in the pipeline when we spoke."
Board cutbacks not about cost: M.O.F.
A reduction in the number of directors on Government boards is not about cutting back expenditure but establishing consistency, the head of the Finance Ministry says.
By Joyetter Feagaimaali'i 19/01/2020
48 district development plans completed
A total of 48 districts have completed their District Development Planning (D.D.P.) programmes.
By Adel Fruean 20/01/2020
Hundreds stranded by Tino flight cancellations
The Samoa Observer reported on Saturday that the Air NZ flight that was bound for Samoa at 2.40 in the afternoon did not arrive, although that was just the beginning of the cancelled flights to Samoa.
By Soli Wilson 20/01/2020