Samoan boxer Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Photo: RNZ
Oceania boxing head calls for sport to remain in Olympics
The Oceania Boxing Confederation President has written to the International Olympic Committee to argue that "boxing deserves to be a part of the Olympics" after the sport was left out of the 2028 Games' initial programme.
Tauhiti Nena blamed a former President for a series of issues at the boxing governing body.
In a letter seen by Inside the Games and addressed to the IOC president and execustive board, Nena says the former boss, Wu Ching-kuo, who left the organisation then known as AIBA in 2017, should be personally liable for the manipulations with refereeing and judging, and for financial collapse.
He argues the International Boxing Association deserves to run boxing, and the boxing deserves to be a part of the Olympics.
The Olympic Committee Executive Board is due to hold its final meeting of the year in Lausanne this week.
Boxing is traditionally a strong sport among Pacific nations. At this year's Commonwealth Games, Samoa won a silver medal and Niue a bronze.
Taekwondo champion impressed by Solomons' set up
Olympic taekwondo gold medallist Cha Dong-min visited Solomon Islands to provide his insight at a national athletes training camp.
The South Korean was part of a World Taekwondo Oceania group which spent a week at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) in Honiara.
Inside the Games reports Solomons athletes attended the camp as part of preparations for their home Pacific Games late next year.
Cha won Olympic gold in the heavyweight division at Beijing 2008.
He won bronze in the same category at Rio 2016, as well as World Championships silver at middleweight in 2011.
Cha says the Institute of Sport facility is well equipped to improve the local athletes' performances.
Pacific football refs get VAR training
Fourteen Oceania Football officials took the opportunity to upskill in Sydney recently.
Football Federation Australia facilitated a Video Assistant Referees (VAR) course for them, designed to show how the system works.
VAR reviews have been controversial at the current World Cup in Qatar.
Among the most high-profile incident was one in which Japan scored late on against Spain to condemn Germany to an early exit.
The ball appeared to drift out of play before being kicked across goal for a Japanese player to score, but the VAR official ruled it was fine.
"Our commitment to providing our officials with every opportunity to perform on the world stage is highlighted by working in collaboration with Football Federation Australia on the VAR accreditation of our officials," said OFC Head of Refereeing Kevin Stoltenkamp.
"This is a step in the right direction, with the announcement that a OFC Professional League is set for launch in 2025. OFC match officials have always been professional in an amateur football environment in our region, which is required for them to get appointed to international competitions."
Pacific sides out of medals at Dubai Sevens
Australia and South Africa emerged winners at the Dubai Sevens.
In the men's competition South Africa beat Ireland in the final.
In the women's final Australia was too strong for New Zealand.
In other Pacific results, Fiji's women's team came 5th, and the men's side 9th.
Samoa's men's side lost their quarterfinal to eventual winners South Africa.
Tuilaepa re-elected Samoan rugby head
Lakapī Samoa has re-elected long serving Chairman Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi to the helm of the rugby governing body for another four years.
The appointment was voted on at the annual general meeting last week.
Tuilaepa said he was delighted and hugely challenged by the confidence entrusted by the board to continue on the role of Chairman.
He says 2023 is a massive year ahead, with the Rugby World Cup as an immediate focus, "but also remain firm on continuing our board's strategic plans in growing and strengthening our teams, growing our commercial portfolio to assist ease our financial tension moving forward".