Minister Vave highlights Rocky Manisiu Ramo’s medal upgrade and Solomon Islands’ commitment to clean sports and future success.
The upgrade of Rocky Manisiu Ramo’s bronze medal to silver at the 2023 Pacific Games has brought renewed recognition to Team Solomon’s success, Minister Vave said during a ceremony celebrating the achievement.
The Minister highlighted the nation’s strong performance at the Games, where Solomon Islands secured 79 medals, placing sixth on the medal tally with 12 gold, 38 silver, and 29 bronze medals. He emphasized that the medal upgrade, resulting from an anti-doping violation by another athlete, reaffirmed Team Solomon’s commitment to fair play and integrity in sports.
“The circumstances surrounding this upgrade are unfortunate, but they highlight that Team Solomon competes with total commitment to clean and fair competition,” Minister Vave said.
Looking ahead, the Minister expressed the government’s commitment to improving sporting performance both on and off the field. He stressed the importance of governance within national sports organizations and ensuring structures are in place to support athletes. The Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) continues to play a key role in the country’s high-performance program.
Minister Vave also outlined preparations for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, emphasizing that success requires strategic planning, discipline, and perseverance from athletes. National sports federations are tasked with identifying and nurturing young talent to compete at an international level.
“The NSC is working closely with national federations to create a seamless sports system that identifies and nurtures talented athletes. We need expert coaches and an education system that supports young athletes to succeed on the global stage,” he stated.
He reaffirmed that athletes must remain at the center of all development efforts and stressed the importance of governance and accessibility in sports.
“I look forward to the day when we have a well-governed sports system that allows all our young athletes to participate and excel in their chosen disciplines,” Minister Vave said.
The Minister concluded by congratulating Rocky Manisiu Ramo on his upgraded medal and encouraged him to strive for gold in future competitions.
