By Georgina Maka’a

Eighty Solomon Islands athletes are heading to China for training ahead of the upcoming Pacific Games in November.

The athletes are from seven sports federations – Taekwondo, Boxing, Judo, Swimming, Athletics, Table Tennis and Weightlifting.

The arrangement has been formalized in March this year after a meeting between Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Chinese Ambassador Li Ming and officials from the China International Development Cooperation Agency.

The athletes will be in China for three months before returning in mid-October with nine Chinese coaches who will train them until the games in November.

Speaking to the athletes on Tuesday night at the main Games stadium, Sogavare encouraged them to go to China and “train responsibly”.

“You go as Solomon Islanders and not as individual provinces,” Sogavare said.

“Please remember you are the chosen few; the trust of your families, federation, your country is on you,” he added.

Chinese ambassador Li Ming also encouraged the athletes to embrace the experience while in China.

“You will experience the traditional and modern culture of China and encourage them to be good ambassadors of Solomon Islands when in China,” Ming said.

“I hope the skills and performance you gained from your training in China will be improved to assist your country with its goal to win 40 gold medals in the Pacific Games,” he added.

“When you go to China you will be ambassadors of Solomon Islands.

“Please uphold the spirit of the Olympic Games to be faster, higher and stronger together to also bring our friendship to a new height.”

Chairman of the National Justification Committee Morris Maitaki told In-depth Solomons they hope our athletes will make good use of their time in China training for the Games.

Maitaki said this is the first time for our athletes to train in China.

Sprinter Luke Haga told In-depth Solomons he’ll use the opportunity to gain as much skills as possible to prepare himself for the November Games.

“I look forward to challenging myself and to give something back to my country when I return,” Haga said.

Athletics coach Robert Aron, a former sprinter himself who will accompany the athletics team, expressed his gratitude at the opportunity.

“I am happy to see our athletes nowadays have more opportunities to train compared to our days, “ Aron said.

He said he is confident that some of his athletes will win medals in the upcoming Games.

The first group of athletes fly out of the country today, followed by the second on July 8. The athletics team will leave on July 12.