Monthly Archives: April 2017

Tonga is hopeful this week's Oceania Judo Championships in Nuku'alofa will be the first of many international events to be held in the Kingdom.

130 athletes from 12 countries will compete for world rankings points with up to 200 overseas visitors to attend the two-day event, which gets underway tomorrow.

'Atele Indoor Stadium in Nuku'alofa is hosting the 2017 Oceania Judo Championships. Photo: Facebook / Lennie Niit

The President of the Tonga and Oceania Judo Unions, Lennie Nitt, said there are plans to host an international judo event annually in Tonga from 2018.

He said the Oceania Championships are an important opportunity for Pacific lifters.

"Beside our huge grand prixs, grand slams - world global events - these are the highest rankings you can get," he said.

"Right now they are basically positioning themselves for when the Olympic qualification period starts," he said.

"Normally in judo it would start approximately two years before the Olympic Games so we're talking in mid 2018.

"And now they're also positioning themselves on the world rankings list for the best possible seeding in these larger events so they are ready for getting maximum points they might achieve during their qualification period."

Tonga will have four locals competing on Friday: Sailosi Fua and Finetuui Moala in the senior men's competition and Ineti Felemi and Fugalaau Mafi in the senior women's event.

Lennie Nitt said there are also plans to host an international judo event annually in Tonga from 2018.

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Sport: Tonga hopes to become Oceania judo capital - Radio New Zealand

26/04/2017

News

FIBA U17 Oceania Championships host - Guam

GUAM - From the July 10-15this year, 16 teams will come together to battle it out and become the champions of Oceania and earn one of two qualifying spots to the FIBA U18 Asia Championships in 2018.

This will all be taking place in Guam, the Micronesian island nation located in the Western Pacific at the southernmost tip of the Mariana Island chain. Guam is a dependent territory of the United States of America and has a rich military history due to its strategic military and economic position between Asia and North America.

Teams from all over Oceania will enjoy meeting many of Guams diverse population of 173,542 people from a range of backgrounds including Chamorro, South-East Asia, Micronesia and the USA.

The Guam Basketball Confederation (GBC) was formed in 1975 to provide basketball players on Guam an opportunity to compete at the highest level of basketball in local and international competitions.

GBC competes in the Micronesia sub-zone of FIBA Oceania and has seen sustained success over several years at all levels. Guam's youth teams have excelled in international competitions, placing third behind Australia and New Zealand in 2016 for U18 men and 2014 for U18 Women. At the senior men's level, Guam has won Gold at the 1979 and 2015 Pacific Games (formally known as the South Pacific Games), along with four silver medals in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011.

In striving to play at a consistently high level, GBC provides training opportunities for players, coaches, referees and technical officials. GBC hopes to improve every facet of Guam basketball, from its players and coaches, to its officials and staff at the scorers table. Ultimately, it is GBC's goal to ensure that the sport continues to grow on Guam, and that all those interested in the sport (whether as a referee, coach, or player) are given the opportunity to excel at it.

The GBC and the people of Guam are extremely excited to be hosting this years event.

"GBC is very much looking forward to hosting the U17 championship," commented GBC President, Tony Thompson.

"With potential future Olympians participating, the island is really in for a treat to some high caliber play as all teams step up their game to try to match each other."

"With the new competition system, each team will be striving to make it to that next level. Anything can happen on any given night."

FIBA

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Get to know your FIBA U17 Oceania Championships 2017 hosts - FIBA

Oceania Cruises has announced new vegan menus, which feature more than 250 innovative dishes, on all six of its shipsplus raw juice and smoothie bars on two of them. Passengersvegan and omnivore alikecan now enjoy delicious meals that are kinder to animals, the environment, and their bodies. For allowing people to take compassion along with them on their travels, PETA is sending the company a Compassionate Business Award.

Standouts from the new menus include vanilla waffles with fresh berries and apricot and pistachio muffins for breakfast; a succulent involtini stuffed with tofu, spinach, and capers for lunch; and a bevy of ever-changing five-course meals for dinner, such as Thai red curry with steamed jasmine rice, a creamy truffle-flavored parsnip soup with tarragon, and a quinoa salad and vegetable tartare. A raw juice and smoothie bar is available onboard two of the ships, Marina and Riviera.

The expanded culinary options follow encouragement last year from PETA, as well as growing public interest in wellness-focused lifestyles.Oceanias compassionate and delicious new vegan menus have us hoping that other cruise lines will soon follow suit with animal-free fare of their own.

Vegan meals reduce diners chances of developing heart disease by a whopping 32 percent, according to a large-scale study conducted by Oxford University. In addition, going vegan reduces the risk of suffering from diabetes, obesity, and cancerand saves the lives of more than 100 animals a year. Google Trends notes that public interest in vegan eating is higher now than ever before.

Its easy to be kind to animals no matter where you are. If youre committed to being conscientious both at home and on vacation, be sure to check out the great travel resources that PETA has for you. From dog-friendly hotels to tips on which tourist activities to avoid, we can help you relax and unwind on vacation without causing any undue stress to animals.

10 Great Vegan-Friendly Travel Destinations

Find a cruise on Oceania today, and be sure to thank the company for introducing great vegan options!

Follow this link:

Oceania Cruises Launches Vegan Menus, Earning Award From PETA - PETA (blog) (press release)

HAGTA (The Guam Daily Post) Guam will host the 19th Oceania Customs Organization Annual Conference from May 2 to 5.

Conference participants will discuss customs modernization and reforms related to the theme Data Analysis for Effective Border Management.

This years conference theme is relevant and timely as our region, including Guam, has seen a steady increase in transnational organized crime, particularly drug trafficking and financial crimes, the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency stated.

Human trafficking has also become a great concern to our region, according to the Guam agency.

The conference will involve about 50 delegates representing 23 customs administrations of Pacific island nations and territories, including Australia and New Zealand.

Seventeen global stakeholders and representatives of international and regional organizations and development partners such as the World Bank, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development and the World Customs Organization are also expected to attend.

The Oceania Customs Organization conferences provide member administrations the platform to network, form partnerships, collaborate and share knowledge, information, training, intelligence and data to better protect their borders.

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Guam customs to host Oceania conference - Marianas Variety