Welcome planned

Team Cook Islands will be welcomed home by about 100 people when members arrive at Rarotonga’s international airport on Friday night.

Of the 49-strong team – in Delhi for the Commonwealth Games – 32 are booked on an Air New Zealand flight arriving at 11.30pm, as well as Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee president Sir Geoffrey Henry and secretary general Rosie Blake, who travelled to India with the team.

The only Cook Islands-based team member not arriving on Friday evening is administrator Siniva Marsters, who will stay in Delhi and return to Rarotonga on October 25.

All other team members are based outside of the Cook Islands, and will travel home from India to New Zealand and Australia.

The party of 34 arriving in Rarotonga on Friday includes 20 athletes, as well as officials.

CISNOC staff have organised the welcome, which will comprise speeches from executive board members and possibly government representatives.

CISNOC administration and finance officer Teiva Joseph said some details had yet to be finalised, although it was hoped Minister of Health and Sport Apii Piho would be available to attend.

House of Ariki president Travel Tou Ariki would also be asked to make a speech, along with a CISNOC life member, she said.

“We will be having an arrival ceremony for them (team members) in the VIP lounge at the airport. Families of the athletes will also be there, so we are expecting quite a few people.”

Joseph said it was possible further events would take place in the weeks following the team’s arrival, although nothing had been confirmed.

“We still haven’t drawn the raffles, so we’ll have to do that at least,” she said.

Delhi photos, pages 12 and 15.