THE SUCCESS STORY OCEANIA WEIGHTLIFTING INSTITUTE, SIGATOKA FIJI IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INSTITUTE. In January 2002, the General Secretary of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation, Mr Paul Coffa shifted to Sigatoka, Fiji and in doing so he decided to establish a weightlifting centre for the Pacific athletes in Sigatoka. With the assistance of the Nadroga Province and in particular, Ratu Sakiusa Makutu on the 12 th April, 2002, the Oceania Weightlifting Institute was officially opened.
Seiuli Paul Wallwork, OWF President officially opens the Institute. OBJECTIVES: The purpose for the Oceania Weightlifting Federation establishing this Institute was: (a) To assist athletes within the Pacific region to train in a professional environment. (b) To prepare elite athletes of the Pacific for major international events such as the South Pacific Games, the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and of course the Olympic Games. (c) To educate further the athletes in the requirements of preparation for major international events. (d) To provide a platform for regional coaches to further their coaching experience with elite athletes. (e) To assist the region in the promotion of Technical officials. 2002 Since the Institute was opened on the 12 th April, 2002, the results have been outstanding. The major success for 2002 was the Commonwealth Games held in Manchester. Lifters who trained at the Institute produced outstanding results by winning 2 gold, 5 silver and 9 bronze medals.
The Nauru Women and Men Team at the Manchester Commonwealth Games. The Fiji Weightlifting Federation (FWF) also benefited tremendously in 2002. With the assistance of the Institute, Fiji was provided with an opportunity to develop its Federation. In October 2002 the first ever national championships was held in Levuka, Fiji, with 40 lifters taking part, followed by another tournament held at the Institute for the F.W.F. in December 2002. In 2002, 54 lifters from 7 countries trained at the Institute. Some full time and some part 2003 THE SUCCESS CONTINUED IN 2003. The focus in 2003 was the South Pacific Games held in Suva. The lifters training at the Institute accounted for 77% of Gold medals, 80% of silver medals and 64% of bronze medals won at the South Pacific Games. Three Pacific top lifters at the South Pacific Games. The Fiji National Team at the South Pacific Games. From August to December, 2003, the OOTC program came into force and this enabled certain lifters to train full time at the Institute for lengthy periods. They benefited greatly from this especially in their approach to major events.
Sioe Haioti from Niue. Sam Pera Junior from the Cook Islands. In 2003, 57 lifters from 12 countries trained at the Institute. Again some of these athletes trained for a long period of time with a few training for a shorter period. 2004 The first six months of 2004 again we saw 70 Lifters from 9 Countries training at the Institute preparing this time for the Oceania and South Pacific Championship, an Olympic Qualification event. All Oceania lifters, who have qualified, (with the exception of the two Australians,) or received invitation cards to compete at the Athens Olympic Games train or have trained at the Institute. The lifters of the Pacific competing in Athens are as follows: Nauru: Samoa: PNG: FSM: Yukio Peter (IOC Scholarship) Reanna Solomon (IOC Scholarship) Itte Detenamo (OOTC program) Uati Maposua Dika Toua (Solidarity & OOTC program) Manuel Minginfel (Solidarity & OOTC program) A. Samoa: Eleei Ilalio (OOTC program) Kiribati: Fiji: Cook Islands: Meameaa Thomas (Solidarity) Ivy Shaw (FASANOC) Sam Pera (Solidarity & OOTC program)
Ten lifters representing eight countries of the Pacific competed at the Athens Olympic Games. Dika Toua (PNG) three times PNG Sports woman of the Year, placed 6 th, which was the highest placing of any Pacific athlete from any sport. Oceania lifters training at the Institute in preparation to the Oceania Championships in Suva, Fiji. Pacific lifters staying in Sigatoka at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute together with IWF officials, Mr. Robert Nagy and Mr. Attila Adamfi. THE NEXT FOUR YEARS 2004-2008 The results that the Institute has achieved in the last two and half years has been great. We are now at the crossroads. In order to achieve even better results than we have so far, we need to now elevate the Pacific lifters standard further in order for them to aim at winning Commonwealth Games medals in Melbourne 2006, and a chance for a medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
With the combined support of the National Federations, the National Olympic Committees, the Oceania National Olympic Committee (IOC Solidarity) and the OOTC Program the Pacific lifters can take the big step forward and achieve these goals. Success continued when the Institute lifters dominated the Mini South Pacific Games in Palau in the month of August, 2005. Whilst all of this was happening, Seiuli Paul Wallwork, President of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation, made a special visit to Fiji and in the course of events, convinced Mr. Coffa to relocate the Institute to Samoa, as Samoa was building a world class purpose facility in Tuainamato. The SPG Minister and the Prime Minister of Samoa played a big part in securing the relocation of the Institute, the Coffa family and the elite athletes of the region. The Institute was relocated to Apia on October 12 th, 2005 and was met with instant success when institute lifter, Yukio Peter (Nauru), won a silver medal at the Centennial World Championships in Qatar in December 2005. Samoa in July 2006 held the biggest international weightlifting event the Pacific has ever seen with 30 countries taking part and massive television coverage not only local, the Pacific region but also international in China. The event was the Commonwealth & Oceania Championships and the first Pacific Rim International. The major event was followed by another success at the World Championships when in the month of October, 2006, Manuel Minginfel (FSM) won a silver medal in Santo Domingo.
Obviously whilst the institute was located in Samoa, the local lifters benefited greatly and produced vastly improved results. There has also been a huge increase in the number of lifters. Institute lifters at the South Pacific Games 2007 won 39 out of the 45 gold medals. The Minister for the SP Games opens the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in Apia-Samoa on October 12 th 2005 The accommodation in Apia-Samoa for the Institute lifters.
The First Pacific Rim International tournament held in July 2006 in Apia The Institute has also produced in the last two years one of the greatest female athletes the region has ever seen, Samoan, Ele Opeloge. Ele holds every Oceania and South Pacific record in the 75+kg category. She holds the snatch record with 119kg, the clean & jerk record with 151kg and the combined total record of 269kg. She placed 4 th in Beijing in the +75Kg category. A NEW ERA In February 2008, the Oceania Weightlifting Institute and the Oceania Weightlifting Federation headquarters has been shifted to Noumea, New Caledonia. The New Caledonia Government is building a brand new weightlifting institute to cater for the relocation. The Institute has a temporary training facility until January 2009 when the brand new institute and accommodation facilities will be officially opened for the athletes. We believe the relocation will be a further boost to the sport of weightlifting in the region.
The lifters from Oceania competing in Beijing placed as follows: Men Australia Damon Kelly placed 9 th in the +105Kg category Nauru: Itte Detenamo, placed 10 th in the +105Kg category FSM: Manuel Minginfel placed 11 th in the 62Kg category Cook Islands: Samuel Pera junior placed 12 th in the +105Kg category Tonga: Maamaloa Lolohea placed 13 th in the+105kg Category Kiribati: David Katoatau placed 15 th in the 85Kg category New Zealand Mark Spooner placed 21 st in the 69Kg Category New Zealand Richard Patterson placed 21 st in the 77Kg Category Tuvalu: Logona Esau placed 23 rd in the 69Kg category Fiji: Joe Vueti placed 23 rd in the 77Kg category WOMEN Samoa: PNG: Australia Solomon Islands: Ele Opeloge, placed 4 th in the +75Kg category Dika Toua, placed 8 th in the 53Kg Category Deborah Lovely placed 8 th in the +75Kg category Wendy Hale placed 12 th in the 58Kg category
2009 It was simply sensational. The Oceania Weightlifting Institute accommodation at night The Institute training halls Well, it did happen. In New Caledonia, on August 1 st, 2009, the new building specifically constructed to cater for the Oceania Weightlifting Institute program, as well as house the Oceania and Commonwealth headquarters, was officially opened by Monsieur Philippe Gomez, President of the New Caledonia Government, Monsieur Eric Gay Mayor of the City of Mont Dore and H.E. Marcus Stephen, President of the Republic of Nauru and President of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation. The relocation of the Oceania Institute to New Caledonia originated in 2007, after a number of meetings between the New Caledonia Minister for Sport, Le Comité Térritorial Olympique et Sportif (CTOS) Mr. Ronald Frere the President of New Caledonia Weightlifting, the NC 2011 Pacific Games Organizing Committee, and the OWF General Secretary, Paul Coffa, who created the Institute program back in 2002 in Sigatoka, Fiji. At the conclusion of these meetings, it was decided to relocate the Institute program and in February 2008, the Institute program commenced in New Caledonia. Temporary facilities were made available until the Institute building was completed. (The cutting of the ribbon at the main entrance by Monsieur Pierre Frogier, Deputy of the Republic of France, Monsieur Phillip Gomez, President of New Caledonia Government, the Mr Ma Wenguang, IWF General Secretary, His Excellency Marcus Stephen, OWF President, Monsieur Ronal Frere OWF Vice President, and the Mayor of the City of Mont Dore Monsieur Eric Gay.) It took almost 12 months to complete the new facility and on Saturday, 1 st August 2009, it was officially opened. 250 guests attended, amongst them included Heads of State and Government Ministers of the different Pacific Island nations, local government officials including Monsieur Pierre Frogier, Deputy of the Republic of France and President of the South Province, Monsieur Maurice Ponga the former Minister for Sport of New Caledonia and now Member of the European Government, the current Minister for Sport for New Caledonia, the President and Board members of the Le Comité Térritorial Olympique et Sportif (CTOS), the President and Board members of the NC 2011 Pacific Games Organizing Committee, the Secretary General and the CEO of the Pacific Games Council plus many other distinguished guests. The IWF weightlifting personalities who traveled to New Caledonia for this special occasion were Mr. Ma Wenguang the General Secretary of the IWF and President of the Weightlifting Association of the People s Republic of China, his personal secretary Ms. Wang Yan who was the Competition Manager for weightlifting at the Beijing Olympics. Mr. Sam Coffa, the Vice President of the IWF, Mr. Nicu Vlad also Vice President of the IWF, the President of the European Weightlifting Federation, Dr. Antonio Urso, many times world champion Mr. Blagoi Blagoev, Mr. Matthew Curtain, London 2012 Weightlifting Competition Manager, and Ms. Reiko Chinen from Japan representing the 2016 Tokyo Bid.
Two great friends, His Excellency Marcus Stephen with Sam Coffa. The unveiling of the plaque. Mr. Ma Wenguang, was extremely impressed and stated that the Institute is unique in its operation in the world of weightlifting, is a concept of great forward thinking, and is a model that other continents should try to emulate. In the same manner the European President, Dr. Antonio Urso, was equally impressed and he believes that a regional concept such as this will not only develop weightlifters in the region but also promote the sport of weightlifting in a professional manner.. The main training hall has 18 platforms. The hall prepared for the Opening Ceremony. The Institute facilities includes a main training hall with 18 platforms, a second training hall which includes 10 platforms plus general weight training equipment, changing facilities for men and women, weigh-in rooms, doping control room, offices, and reception area. The accommodation area includes twelve rooms with en-suite facilities catering for 24 athletes, a large dining room, television room, kitchen facilities, utilities room, meeting room and offices for the Oceania and Commonwealth headquarters. It is interesting that already quite a number of countries outside of the Oceania region have expressed interest in training at the Institute here in New Caledonia. You are welcome to visit the IWF website on www.iwf.net It carries a very good story on the institute and many photos. Also it is interesting that the Institute Opening made the sports news of the Chinese Olympic Committee website on the following link http://en.olympic.cn/news/sports_news/2009-08-05/1852840.html Many weightlifting personalities were amongst the guests. Here we have Matthew Curtain, Blagoi Blagoev and Reiko Chinen. The IWF General Secretary and Paul Coffa enjoying the view of New Caledonia.
VIP guests waiting for the opening speech. Monsieur Phillip Gomez, and Monsieur Eric Gay, hold their recognition awards. The IWF General Secretary Mr. Ma Wenguang together with H.E. Marcus Stephen and the EWF President Dr. Antonio Urso visited the Territorial Olympic Committee of New Caledonia. The President of CTOS, Mr. Charles Cali standing next to Mr.Ma Wenguang presented some gifts. Also in the center is Madame Pascale Bastien-Thiry, the President of the 2011 Pacific Games Organizing Committee. IWF General Secretary, Mr. Ma Wenguang presented a magnificent gift to Paul Coffa in recognition of his outstanding efforts in establishing the Oceania Weightlifting Institute. The gift had a significant message from Hu Jin Tao the President of the People s Republic of China which reads in English CHEER YOU UP It s a weightlifting barbell encased in a glass frame. 2010 onwards His Excellency, Marcus Stephen with Paul Coffa present an award of recognition from the OWF to Monsieur Pierre Frogier, Deputy of the Republic of France. Since the Opening Ceremony in August 2009, the Institute has continued with its success on the platform. Also the institute has attracted many visitors. These are government officials from the different pacific islands, national Olympic committees, sports personalities, university professors from Europe, international television networks and national teams. Some of the highlights were: 2010
PACIFIC GAMES SPORTS LEADERS VISITING THE INSTITUTE Mr Atma Maharaj (President Fiji Weightlifting), Mr Takitoa Taumoepeau (Sec.General -Tonga National Olympic Commttee) Mr Fred Maetoloa(President- Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee) Mr Teake Esene Manatu (Sec General- Tuvalu National Olympic Committee) Mr Peter Birati (President- Kiribati National Olympic Committee) Ms.Rosie Blake (Sec.General- Cook Islands National Olympic Committee) Mr Terry Sasser (Sec.General- Marshall Islands National Olympic Committee) Mr Anthony Muller (President- Marshall Islands Weightlifting) Ms.Lorraine Ma ( Sec.General & CEO of FASANOC) Mr Patrick Bower (2011 Team Fiji- Chef de Mission) Mr Pres-Nimes Ekwona (Gen.Secretary- Nauru Olympic Committee) MrJean-Marc Domergue (Sec.General- CTOS), Mr Alan Tano (President- Niue Weightlifting & Gen Secretary Niue National Olympic Committee) KOREA NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING AT THE INSTITUTE Korean lifters at the closing function of the Pacific Cup International tournament Korean officials awarded OWF medals. INSTITUTE LIFTERS at the COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN INDIA Yukio Peters gold in the 77Kg Category 20111 CHINESE NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING AT THE INSTITUTE Itte Detenamo wins silver Chinese national team including Olympic and world champions trains at the Institute.
2011 PACIFIC GAMES- NOUMEA Lifters training at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute and past members of the Institute together produced 39 of the 45 gold medals. WEIGHTLIFTING SCOOPS PACIFIC SPORTS AWARDS INSTITUTE LIFTERS SUCCESSFUL AT THE 2011 ARNOLD INTERNATIONAL 2012 TEN INSTITUTE LIFTERS COMPETED AT THE LONDON OLYMPICS A record number of ten lifters from the Institute competed at the London Olympic coming from FSM, Fiji, Nauru, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Tuvalu, Cook Islands and Solomon Islands. 2013 2013 PACIFIC MINI GAMES Institute lifters dominates the gold medal tally. FRENCH SPORTS OFFICIALS VISITS INSTITUTE The Institute on Friday 2 nd August was visited by a French delegation of sporting champions and officials.the Delegation consisted of : Laura Flesel-Colovic, twice Olympic gold medallist, world and European champion in Fencing Anne- Caroline Graffe, Olympic silver medallist and World and European Champion in Judo Lara Grangeon, London Olympic representative and French champion in swimming. Tony Estanguet, Three times Olympic gold medallist, world and European Champion in Canoeing. Christian Karembeo, team member 1998 France FIFA World Cup champions, 2000 European Champions and playing with great teams such as Sampdoria (Italy) Real Madrid (Spain), Middlesbrough (England),Olympiakos (Greece) and
2014 MARCH- 2014 OCEANIA ELITE TRAINING CAMP 2014 OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD AT THE INSTITUTE The competition hall at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute Dr Tamas Ajan receives a gift of appreciation at the Congress 2014 PACIFIC CUP INTERNATIONAL HELD AT THE INSTITUTE 2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES - GLASGOW Institute lifters win 3 Gold, 1 silver and 1 Bronze David Katoatau- Kiribati Dika Toua- Papua New Guinea Steven Kari Papua New Guinea Again all of this success in the past six years in New Caledonia will not have been achieved without the continued support of the Government of New Caledonia in its regional co-operation, the C.T.O.S (the Olympic Committee of New Caledonia) for their outstanding co-operation and assistance and naturally the City of Mont Dore for building such an exceptional institute in order to assist all pacific islands weightlifters in achieving world class performances and thereby allowing their respective countries to enjoy sporting success.