Today at the Games: Recent Episodes
The Reporters' Academy
...... 12 Pacific Island nations are competing at the Birmingham 2022 - Commonwealth Games, this podcast will bring you highlights from Pacific Oceania during the Games.
Each episode, posted live from Birmingham UK, will reveal some of the inspiring, untold stories of the Pacific islands and Pacific athletes, told by the voices of Oceania.
Subscribe to our podcast so you don’t miss an episode!
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This podcast has been created and produced by The Reporters’ Academy, a not-for-profit media production company, for Oceania National Olympic Committees.
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Today at the Games is a daily podcast bringing you the successes and untold stories of the Pacific Oceania athletes and nations as they compete in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. In our final episode, our Guest presenter, Fijian Swimmer Cheyenne Rova, talks us through our eighth episode.
First up, we have an interview with Samoa’s silver medallist, Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, who described what it was like going up against fellow Pacific Oceania athlete, Duken Holo Tutakitoa-Williams. Ato also tell us what he’s most looking forward to doing once he’s back home from Birmingham… Seeing his family!
We also interviewed Miller Pata and Sherysyn Toko, the Vanuatu Women’s Beach Volleyball pair, after winning their bronze medal match. Speaking in their own language, which has been translated for this podcast, they send their well wishes and thank you messages to one another as well as everyone who has supported them. An emotional interview! As described, they’re definitely “super heroes” of the Beach Volleyball world!
It wouldn’t be a final episode without some bloopers! Enjoy some of the funny moments had between interviewers and athletes during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
To wrap up, we share the reflections of the Pacific Oceania athletes now their time in Birmingham 2022 has come to an end. We can’t believe the 22nd Commonwealth Games is over but what a games it has been! An incredible success for the Pacific Oceania athletes and nations; 13 medals won, dozens of PBs achieved and history being made, we couldn’t be prouder.
All eight episodes are available across Spotify and Apple Podcasts, to listen back on the action and hear your favourite Pacific Oceania voices!
Today at the Games is a daily podcast bringing you the successes and untold stories of the Pacific Oceania athletes and nations as they compete in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. In our penultimate episode, our Guest presenter, Fijian Swimmer David Young, talks us through our seventh episode.
In an interview with Secretary General Tonga Wrestling Federation, Leafa Wawryk, talks to us about competing on a world stage and how Birmingham 2022 has been one of the best yet for the Pacific Oceania! Leafa also gives us an insight into the logistics of bringing Pacific Oceania athletes to compete overseas and also how important it is to bring the younger generation through.
In the final days of the competition, we spoke to Pacific Oceania track and wrestling athletes who shared their experiences of competing in a Commonwealth Games and what their next steps are for their sporting career. They also used the opportunity to reflect on their performances as well as the Games overall.
Self proclaimed “under dog”, Duken Holo Tutakitoa-Williams, who won the bronze medal for Niue in the Heavyweight Boxing Division, tells us about wanting other Niueans to follow in their footsteps and think about a potential future in Boxing. They also reflect on their time at the Games after making history as the first ever medal winner for Niue.
We also spoke to PNG Swimmer, Georgia Leigh Vele who described their time at Birmingham 2022 as a “whirlwind”, told us about their journey to becoming a swimmer. Not only did swimming lessons from a young age provide some inspiration, Georgia also comes from a “swimming family” with their Dad and uncles representing PNG previously, so the goal for Georgia was simple… to make the “boys club” and also represent PNG in the water. However, the main piece of advice from Georgia for any Pacific Oceania residents who plan to travel to the UK… Pack warm clothes!
To wrap up our penultimate episode, we asked the Pacific Oceania athletes “what they would say to their younger selves” and “what does their sport mean to them” - truly inspiring answers you won’t want to miss!
Please subscribe to our podcast so you don’t miss our final episode from Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games!
Today at the Games is a daily podcast bringing you the successes and untold stories of the Pacific Oceania athletes and nations as they compete in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Guest presenter, Samoan and Secretary General of Samoa National Olympic Committee Maureen Tuimalealiifano, talks us through our sixth episode.
As part of this episode, we talked to Head Coach of Vanuatu’s Beach Volleyball, Steve Anderson. Steve goes into detail about the community which surrounds Beach Volleyball in Vanuatu, it’s not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. It can help with tolerance, confidence, self-esteem and so much more; Volleyball is inspiring a new, younger generation! They also discuss the need to keep emotions in check while performing on a world stage.
We also spoke to the Pacific Oceania athletes who competed in Athletics, Table Tennis and Weightlifting who told us about their positive experiences post-event as well as what they think about during the action. They also told us how awesome the crowds have been during Birmingham 2022, showing the Commonwealth Games is living up to its name of the “friendly games”
Samoa Silver medallist Weightlifter, Jack Hitila Opeloge and Dengue Tagifano So’onalole-Sam Chong, joined us to share their thoughts after winning a silver medal at their first ever Commonwealth Games competition. It’s also clear to see that medal winning runs in the Opeloge family, as we saw Jack’s older brother, Don, win a gold medal in Weightlifting earlier in the competition. Jack also told us about his sister winning a bronze medal in the Mini Pacific games and his extended family having a history with winning medals in professional competitions - what a family!
The Oceania family also tell us their kind words and messages of thanks to Birmingham for being a home away from home during the Commonwealth Games 2022.
To wrap up this episode, we have the wonderful Cook Islands family who tell us about their culture as well as play us out with some traditional Cooks music! We also have the Pacific Oceania athletes tell us who or what their inspirations were which helped kick-start their sporting careers.
Please subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode from the voices of the Pacific Oceania!
Today at the Games is a daily podcast bringing you the successes and untold stories of the Pacific Oceania athletes and nations as they compete in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Guest presenter, Vanuatu 100M and 200M Women’s athlete Chloe David, talks us through our fifth episode.
Even more behind-the-scenes access was had with our Oceania Pacific athletes and officials, we managed to get a special interview with PNG’s Chef De Mission, Michael Henao. They told us about their background in the sporting world and how they got started as well as giving us an insight into what the role of Chef De Mission entails. A wonderful moment is also included where Michael told us about the ways the Pacific Oceania nations communicate and celebrate together.
Day five was also a great day for medal wins for the Pacific Oceania athletes, and this episode is jam-packed full of interviews with those medallists. We spoke to Fiji’s bronze medallist, Taniela Tuisuva Rainibogi, who had an array of emotions after their win. An interview full of inspiration and gratitude, a huge well done to Taniela on their bronze medal!
We also spoke to Samoa’s gold medallist, Don Opeloge, who was excited to tell us about their experience. They were full of thank you’s for their nation, loved ones and beyond. Don’s hope? To be an inspiration to the future generations of weightlifters who want to compete at the same level.
We made our way over to Alexander Stadium, where the athletics were taking place, to capture the emotions, experiences and thoughts of those who had competed during day 5 of the competition. We spoke to athletes from Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu .
Finally, to wrap this episode up, we asked our athletes what moments or sportspeople shaped them. This part of the podcast is guaranteed to leave you feeling inspired.
Today at the Games is a daily podcast bringing you the successes and untold stories of the Pacific Oceania athletes and nations as they compete in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Guest presenter, Cook Islander Brianna Lewis, talks us through our fourth episode.
An interview with Debbie Masauvakalo, Vanuatu Beach Volleyball President, is in today's podcast discussing the spots legacy with Woman back home; the legacy being inspiring the young generation and show them they too could compete on a large stage such as, Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Debbie tell us what the experience was like in the lead-up to these games, including the medal win at the Commonwealth Games Gold Coast in 2018, and how it’s not always been smooth sailing especially with COVID. Debbie also tells us of their incredible initiative, Volley for Change, which was created to empower Vanuatu women and highlight ways of life other than the traditional, sport is for them too.
The Swimming events came to an end during day four so we caught up with the Pacific Oceania swimmers to see how they felt after their final heats in the competition.
We've ended this podcast episode by asking our athletes a very important questions... "What moment or person shaped your sporting life?"
To find out what or who had them feeling inspired, listen to Today at the Games, episode four!
Today at the Games is a daily podcast bringing you the successes and untold stories of the Pacific Oceania athletes and nations as they compete in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Guest presenter, Norfolk Island Chef de Mission Sheryl Yelavich, talks us through our third episode.
Athletics is featured in our latest podcast episode, speaking to Solomon Islands long distance runners, they told us about their experiences during their event as well as the challenges faced when training back home.
An exclusive interview was had with Samoan Weightlifter, Vaipava Nevo Ioane, after winning a silver medal in the Mens and 67kg class. They told us about striving for gold and how their family, coach and the crowd helped with a successful performance.
We spoke to the Fijian Womens Rugby 7s Team after they also won a silver medal - the first thing they were going to do? Turn their phones back on to see messages from loved ones back home!
Fiji and Cook Islands Swimmers joined us after their heats to discuss performances, PBs and getting some well deserved rest (and maybe a massage from their physio!)
We also had the pleasure of speaking to Norfolk Island Lawn Bowls legend, Carmen Anderson, who charismatically told us about feeling like they "owned the world" after being crowned the World Champion. An interview you MUST tune in for.
To end today's podcast episode, Pacific Oceania athletes told us the moments and people that shaped them as the athlete they are today, you'll need to listen to find out what and who they are!
Today at the Games is a daily podcast bringing you the successes and untold stories of the Pacific Oceania athletes and nations as they compete in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Guest presenter, Fijian Swimmer Cheyenne Rova, talks us through our second episode.
We had an exclusive interview with Dr Robin Mitchell, who is the current president of ONOC (Oceania National Olympic Commitees), who told us all about their excitement in being back in the UK and how this Commonwealth Games event will pave the way toward the next Pacific Games, Paris 2024 Olympics and even leading up to Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics!
It was a triumphant day with PNG's Morea Baru winning a silver medal in the Mens Weightlifting, the first medal won for the Pacific Oceania Nations! Morea expressed their gratitude and excitement around becoming a silver medallist as well as sending a thank you message to home, an interview not to be missed!
Swimming, Lawn Bowls, Boxing and Weightlifting were the hero sports of day two; we caught up with the Pacific Oceania athletes after they had competed to discuss their thoughts and feelings on their performances. The athletes we spoke to were Fiji swimmers David Young, Temafa Yalimaiwai, Hansel McCaig and Herbert Rabua, Papua New Guinea’s swimmer Georgia Leigh Vele, Cook Island swimmer Lanihei Connolly, Fiji Swimmer Rosemarie Rova, Niue Lawn Bowls Father and Son duo Dalton Tagelagi and Tukala Tagelagi, and Samoa boxer Ah Tong.
We heard the untold stories of Papua New Guinea swimmer, Ryan Maskelyne, of how his grandparents influenced his decision to go into swimming at such a young age and how the love of swimming took longer than expected to grow for this professional athlete. Once upon a time, Ryan was also disqualified from a competition... You'll have to listen to the episode to find out why.
Finally, we hear some special, heartfelt messages to home from a variety of Pacific Oceania athletes.
Today at the Games is a daily podcast bringing you the successes and untold stories of the Pacific Oceania athletes and nations as they compete in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Guest presenter Martin Fong from Fiji Lawnbowls talks us through our debut podcast.
In this episode, we spoke to Papatua Papatua who is the manager of the Cook Island mens lawn bowls team. They told us more about their role and what that entails, the pride the whole nation has for the team as well as the hopes and goals of the team this Commonwealth Games.
We heard from Ryan Maskelyne (PNG), Charissa Panuve (TGA), Kokoro Frost, Brandon Schuster and Olivia Borg, Lushavel Stickland (SAM), Ellie Dixon, Petal Jones, Essie Sanchez, Carmen Anderson (NFK), Tracy Mawa and Stephanie Qwea (VAN) and John Ume (PNG) who told us all about their experiences after their events to give us an insight into their day at the games.
An exclusive interview was conducted with Herbert Rabua, Fijian swimmer, who gave an insight into his training and overall performance.
We also asked the Pacific Oceania athletes what their go-to pump song is before they hit the world stage to compete.
Welcome to Oceania’s Day at The Games…..
Every day this podcast will share the successes of the Pacific Oceania athletes and behind the scenes action from Birmingham 2022.
Join us! You can listen on all your favourite podcasting platforms.