E ta tagata le Leatiogie ‘ae pati pati ta’oto le Fe’epo.

Fe’epo lies clapping as Leatiogie fells opponents.

Just how the blind old Fe’epo, lying about in his house at Faleata, knew of his son’s progress at the national sport of ‘Taugalapalapa’ (fighting with stalks of coconut fronds) at Falefa, at the other end of Upolu, is not clear, but as his son went from Amouta, to Amotai and then to the last day at Moamoa, his old man lay clapping with joy at his son’s success.

With our messenger, linked-in, emails and television we have no problem keeping up with the progress of our athletes at the Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Unlike house-bound Fe’eepo, who could only clap lying down, many of us watching the Pacific Games on television, clap, yell, and even curse if and when our athletes succeed or fail in their events.

So far Samoa is doing well but there’s a long way to go yet, as the Games do not end until 2 December. Just how well Samoa will do we will know in due course, but for now, with several gold medals and a number of silver and bronze medals also, we can rightly offer congratulations to the whole team for their efforts so far.

We know that success is not given; it’s earned. So we thank you for your hard work, dedication and desire to do better. So, enjoy your success, you have earned it

For those who did not win medals, It is said that “excellence is not being the best but doing your best’. If you did your best then you have excellence. No one should expect you to do more than your best. It can’t be done. If someone is silly enough to think so then tell him or her that you have heeded the great Tiger Woods’ advice:

.Never listen to other people’s expectations you should live your life and live up to your own expectations. 

 And we should all heed the Pacific Gamess Council’s advice:

‘Every four years the PACIFIC COMES together in friendship to celebrate the Pacific Games, a multi-sport event that is, by its very design, of and for the Pacific , A celebration of sport and culture in common bonds acquired through shared physical geography and community.